Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
1,137,496 games: White 44.5% / Draw 5.5% / Black 50.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| English Attack | 499,541500K | |
| 139,658140K | ||
| 129,469129K | ||
| 101,567102K | ||
| 86,95387K | ||
| 47,19447K | ||
| 23,31823K | ||
| 20,19020K |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 8, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.44 White is slightly better
Best play: 6. Be3 a6 7. Qf3 b5 8. Qg3 Qxg3 9. hxg3 Bb7 10. Nb3 Nf6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
By rating
The stronger the players, the worse this line does for Black: Black scores 53% under 1400, 50% at 2200 and up and 46% in master games (wins plus half the draws).
| Players | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1400 | 27K | |
| 1400–1799 | 238K | |
| 1800–2199 | 599K | |
| 2200 and up | 371K | |
| Masters, over the board | 26K |
Master games
- Carlsen, M. – Nepomniachtchi, I.
- Nepomniachtchi, I. – Carlsen, M.
- Erigaisi, A. – Carlsen, M.
- Carlsen, M. – Ivanchuk, V.
- Kramnik, V. – Caruana, F.
Rated blitz, rapid and classical Lichess games by rating band, and over-the-board games of players rated 2200+ from the Lichess masters database, updated Sep 27, 2026
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation (ECO B47, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 (5 moves).
In 1,137,496 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 44.5%, Black 50.0% and 5.5% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Be3, in 44% of those games.
It branches into 5 named variations; the most played are Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack and Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation. In all, 6 named lines continue from it.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation
6. g3 scores best for White: 49.8%, with White winning 46.5% and Black 46.8% of 102K games. The most played, 6. Be3, scores 47.5% in 500K games, and 6. Ndb5 scores lowest: 46.1%. Stockfish's first choice is 6. Be3.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Popularity by year
The Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation peaked in 2018 at 0.054% of Lichess games and has slipped since: 0.042% in 2025.
Numbers by year
| Year | Share of games | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.045% | 16,103 |
| 2017 | 0.046% | 25,547 |
| 2018 | 0.054% | 42,457 |
| 2019 | 0.05% | 62,514 |
| 2020 | 0.051% | 148,804 |
| 2021 | 0.043% | 168,028 |
| 2022 | 0.041% | 153,996 |
| 2023 | 0.041% | 155,117 |
| 2024 | 0.043% | 154,171 |
| 2025 | 0.042% | 145,607 |
| 2026 (Jan–Apr) | 0.042% | 46,535 |
Share of rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500 (blitz, rapid and classical) that reach this position, by year; 2026: January to April. Which openings are rising and falling
Variations (5)
- B85 Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O
- B85 Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 d6 9. f4
- B85 Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Kh1 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. a4
- B48 English Attack 6. Be3
- B47 Ponomariov Gambit 6. Ndb5 Qb8 7. Be3 a6 8. Bb6
All 6 named lines that continue from here
- B85 Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line 10 moves
- B85 Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation 9 moves
- B85 Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation 10 moves
- B48 English Attack 6 moves
- B47 Ponomariov Gambit 8 moves
- B49 Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation 7 moves
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation (B47)”. Lichess data as of 8 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-taimanov-variation-bastrikov-variation