Openings 1.e4 c5: the Sicilian
Sicilian Taimanov (4...Nc6): Lines, Plans and Stats by Rating
4...Nc6 develops a knight and keeps everything flexible. Black has not committed to ...d6 or ...Nf6 yet, so the pieces can go wherever White leaves room: ...Qc7, ...a6 and ...Nf6, or a quick ...Bb4.
B44Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation
Games from this position (1600–1999): 20k
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46% | 9,049 | ||
| 22% | 4,339 | ||
| 9% | 1,724 | ||
| 6% | 1,281 | ||
| 4% | 835 | ||
| 3% | 511 | ||
| 2% | 447 | ||
| 2% | 445 | ||
| 2% | 306 | ||
| 1% | 274 | ||
| 1.0% | 195 | ||
| 0.9% | 186 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 5.Nc3 is the main move. Against 5...Qc7 the English Attack with Be3, Qd2 and O-O-O is the sharpest plan.
- 5.Nb5 hits d6 and asks Black for ...d6, a Scheveningen-like structure where c4 clamps the center.
- 5.Nxc6 bxc6 is simple but helps Black: the b-pawn comes to c6 and backs up ...d5.
Black
- 5...a6 keeps the knight off b5; after 5...Qc7 the queen covers d6, and 6.Ndb5 is met by 6...Qb8. Both prepare ...Nf6 and ...Bb4.
- 5...Nf6 is the Four Knights. After 6.Ndb5 play 6...Bb4 or 6...d6; 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 is the other main line.
- The ...d5 break is your main freeing move; prepare it with ...Nf6 and ...Bb4.
Advertisement
Sicilian Taimanov at each rating
How often the position after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 753<0.1% | 5.Nxc652% | |
| 1200–1599 | 7,6540.1% | 5.Nxc637% | |
| 1600–1999 | 20k0.3% | 5.Nc346% | |
| 2000+ | 8,8220.4% | 5.Nc359% | |
| All | 37k0.2% | 5.Nc347% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
White castles long; Black plays ...Bb4 or ...b5 and goes after the king on the queenside.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.O-O-OBlack gives the bishop for the knight and breaks with ...d5 at once.
142 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 39%, 9% were drawn, Black won 52%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Ndb5 Bb4 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Nxc3 d5White gains space with e5; Black hits the pawn with ...Qc7 and ...f6 or ...d6.
516 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 15% were drawn, Black won 35%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4Pawns on c4 and e4 hold d5. Black sets up with ...a6, ...Be7 and ...O-O and waits for ...b5 or ...d5.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Nf6 7.N1c3
Advertisement
At club level
Below 1200 half the players answer 4...Nc6 with 5.Nxc6, and between 1200 and 1599 it is still just ahead of 5.Nc3 (37% to 36%). After 5.Nxc6 bxc6 White scores only about 48%. At 2000+ six in ten play 5.Nc3.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- Sicilian Defense
1.e4 c5
- Closed Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3
- Alapin Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.c3
- Smith-Morra Gambit
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3
- Rossolimo Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
- Sicilian Najdorf
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6