- ECO code
- B48
- Moves
- 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 337
- Average game length
- 45 moves
- Years covered
- 1961–2026
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack is the opening filed under ECO code B48, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family and is known as the Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 337 games on this line — the 283rd most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1961 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 123 games. An average game here lasts 45 moves.
White wins 46% of those games, 32% end in a draw, and Black wins 22%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores worse here by 6 percentage points.
From this position the most popular move is 6...a6, played in 312 games, followed by 6...Nf6 (25). After 6...a6 White scores 46% and Black 22%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Shirov,A (51 games); on the Black side, Aronian,L (15).
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Results in master games
- White 46% (154)
- Draws 32% (108)
- Black 22% (75)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6...a6 | 312 | 46/32/22 | — |
| 6...Nf6 | 25 | 40/36/24 | — |
How the position is reached
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 · 62,859 games
- Sicilian Defense · 1.e4 c5 · 21,789 games
- Sicilian Defense · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 · 18,942 games
- Sicilian Defense: French Variation · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 · 4,191 games
- Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Open · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 · 2,956 games
- Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 · 1,195 games
- Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 · 1,062 games
- Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 · 618 games
Played most often by
As White
- Shirov,A 51
- Karjakin,Sergey 23
- Nepomniachtchi,I 22
As Black
- Aronian,L 15
- Polgar,Ju 14
- Giri,A 13
Games per decade
- 1960s 9
- 1970s 2
- 1980s 2
- 1990s 19
- 2000s 67
- 2010s 115
- 2020s 123
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henriquez Villagra,C | So,W | 0-1 | 2026 | Chess.com Open PlayIn4 |
| Anand,V | Carlsen,M | 0-1 | 2026 | FIDE World Bl Team Pool A |
| Sadhwani,Raunak | Carlsen,M | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | FIDE World Rapid Team |
| Yu Yangyi | Rapport,R | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | CHN League Division A Pt1 |
| Nepomniachtchi,I | Pasti,Aron | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 24th Mar 2026 |
| Shirov,A | Drozdowski,K | 1-0 | 2025 | Titled Tue 4th Feb Early |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack?
It is the opening with ECO code B48, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack good for White or for Black?
In 337 master games on this line White wins 46%, 32% are drawn and Black wins 22%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack?
6...a6 — played in 312 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack?
On the White side Shirov,A (51), Karjakin,Sergey (23), Nepomniachtchi,I (22); on the Black side Aronian,L (15), Polgar,Ju (14), Giri,A (13).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
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