Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Tal Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
6,728 games: White 56.7% / Draw 3.9% / Black 39.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 3,3263,326 | ||
| 1,0271,027 | ||
| 782782 | ||
| 759759 | ||
| 276276 | ||
| 263263 | ||
| 108108 | ||
| 3737 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 13, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.77 White is better
Best play: 8... Nxd4 9. Bxd4 e5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Bf2 exf4 13. Qxf4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Tal Variation (ECO B82, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Matanovic Attack, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f4 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qf3 (8 moves).
In 6,728 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 56.7%, Black 39.4% and 3.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 8…O-O, in 49% of those games.
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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Tal Variation
8…e5 scores best for Black: 47.6%, with Black winning 45.3% and White 50.1% of 759 games. The most played, 8…O-O, scores 41.9% in 3,326 games, and 8…a6 scores lowest: 37.9%. Stockfish's first choice is 8…Nxd4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Tal Variation (B82)”. Lichess data as of 13 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-scheveningen-variation-tal-variation