Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Gary Gambit
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3 d5
The Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Gary Gambit is a chess opening classified as ECO B44, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3 d5. It is a line of the Sicilian Defense. White is to move.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 3 times by this move order. White won 33%, 34% were drawn and Black won 33%. The most popular continuation is 9. cxd5 (67% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.22 (Stockfish, depth 40; best line 9. cxd5 exd5 10. exd5 Nb4 11. Bc4 Bd6)
- ECO
- B44
- Moves
- 16 plies
- FEN
r1bqkb1r/1p3ppp/p1n1pn2/3p4/2P1P3/N1N5/PP3PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 9- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3 d5
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 2000+ | 3 | |
| All | 3 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 9. cxd5 | 2 (67%) | |
| 9. exd5 | 1 (33%) |
Master games
15 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 53%, draw 27%, Black 20%). The strongest:
- GM Petr Kostenko (2472) – IM Arystanbek Urazayev (2442) 1/2-1/2 · Almaty Open 2019 · 2019-10-09
- GM Rodrigo Vasquez Schroeder (2457) – CM Shahdad Teimouri Yadkuri (2275) 1-0 · Abu Dhabi Masters Online · 2024-08-21
- IM Vladimir Vulfson (2416) – IM Virgilio Vuelban (2304) 1-0 · 16th Marienbad IMB2 2017 · 2017-01-24
- FM Pablo Salinas Herrera (2386) – FM Cristobal Torres Bravo (2314) 1/2-1/2 · ch-CHI Final 2013 · 2013-02-18
- GM Bazar Khatanbaatar (2368) – FM Enkhbaatar Enkhnar (2278) 1-0 · 54th ch-MGL 2014 · 2014-04-05
Search all games of the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Gary Gambit and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- BlindKungFuMaster (2402) – mascot33 (2306) 1-0 · 2026-09-06 · 180 + 2s
- Inkburn (2079) – katanougou (2097) 1/2-1/2 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
- NoaS95 (2033) – BobyFoxy (2108) 0-1 · 2026-09-06 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Szén Variation 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5
More Sicilian Defense lines (all)
- Sicilian Defense (1. e4 c5) B20
- Sicilian Defense: Amazon Attack B20
- Sicilian Defense: Big Clamp Formation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Bowdler Attack B20
- Sicilian Defense: Brick Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack B20
- Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack, Queen Fianchetto Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Euwe Attack, Prins Gambit B20
- Sicilian Defense: Gloria Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Grob Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Keres Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening B20
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.