Caissa Codex
B47

Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, Ponomariov Gambit

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, Ponomariov Gambit after 8. Bb6

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Statistics from Lichess

8,839 games: White 55.5% / Draw 4.5% / Black 40.0%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
8,6348,634
157157
1818
77
66
44
44
33

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.65 Black is slightly better

Best play: 8... axb5 9. Nxb5 Bb4+ 10. c3 Ba5 11. Nd6+ Kf8 12. Bc5 b6 13. Be3

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, Ponomariov Gambit (ECO B47, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Ndb5 Qb8 7. Be3 a6 8. Bb6 (8 moves).

In 8,839 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 55.5%, Black 40.0% and 4.5% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 8…axb5, in 98% of those games.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 6. Ndb5 Qb8 7. Be3 a6 8. Bb6, the position after Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, Ponomariov Gambit (B47)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-taimanov-variation-bastrikov-variation-ponomariov-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-taimanov-variation-bastrikov-variation-ponomariov-gambit