Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation

Key ideas for both sides

White

6.Be3 heads for Qd2 and O-O-O, then f4 or g4 for a kingside pawn storm, as the first engine line shows.
The jump Ndb5 hits the queen on c7 and eyes d6, so Black usually has to spend a tempo on ...Qb8.
f4 at once grabs space; after ...a6 and Nxc6 bxc6, put the bishop on d3 and the queen on e2.
Keep the c3 knight ready to meet ...Bb4, which pins it and adds pressure on the e4 pawn.

Black

...a6 and ...Nf6 are the standard follow-up, taking b5 from White's knights and pressuring e4.
After long castling by White, ...b5 and ...b4 kick the c3 knight and open lines toward the white king.
The queen on c7 eyes e5 and the h2 pawn along the b8-h2 diagonal, so watch for ...Bd6 ideas.
If White plays Ndb5, ...Qb8 keeps the queen safe and the knight soon has to go back after ...a6.

Plans and pawn structure

With the queen already on c7, Black has a ready-made setup: ...a6, ...Nf6, ...Be7 or ...Bb4, and ...b5 on the queenside. White picks a structure. The Be3, Qd2, O-O-O and f4 setup leads to opposite-side castling races, where speed matters more than material. A quieter plan with Be2, O-O and f4 resembles the Scheveningen. In both, the e4 pawn is the target for Black's knight on f6 and a bishop on b7.

Where the engine's main line heads: Open Sicilian: White traded the d-pawn for Black's c-pawn. An Open Sicilian: White traded the d-pawn for Black's c-pawn. White has a lead in development and the d-file, Black has the half-open c-file and two central pawns.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.37: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

+0.37 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.O-O-O Be7
+0.32 6.Ndb5 Qb8 7.f4 a6 8.Nd4 Qc7
+0.28 6.f4 a6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 d5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,027 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.1%.

1200–159948.7%

1600–199951.0%

2000 and up53.1%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack6.Be3 · rare
Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, Ponomariov Gambit6.Ndb5 · rare
Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line6.Be2 · rare

How to play against it

As White, use the early queen move. Be3 and Qd2 with long castling is the most direct way, and Ndb5 is a real try while ...a6 is missing. Avoid slow moves like h3 or a3 that let Black play ...Nf6, ...Bb4 and ...d5 with easy equality.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Be2.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7. Its ECO code is B47, B49.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.37 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,027 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.1%. Rewards Black players who know Sicilian queenside counterplay, while White needs to be comfortable with opposite-side castling attacks.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation?

Black puts the queen on c7 early to watch e5 and keep options with the bishop and knights. White chooses between Be3, Qd2 and long castling for an attack, or Ndb5 to hit the queen before ...a6 arrives.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Be3, with Ndb5 and f4 close behind. 6.Be3 prepares Qd2 and long castling, the most active plan against Black's ...a6 and ...b5 setup.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.