Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Szén Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5
The Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Szén Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO B44, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5. It is a line of the Sicilian Defense. Black is to move. 2 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 631 times by this move order. White won 49%, 6% were drawn and Black won 45%. The most popular continuation is 5… d6 (55% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.29 (Stockfish, depth 46; best line 5… d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3)
- ECO
- B44
- Moves
- 9 plies
- FEN
r1bqkbnr/pp1p1ppp/2n1p3/1N6/4P3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - 2 5- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 33 | |
| 1500-1999 | 304 | |
| 2000+ | 294 | |
| All | 631 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 5… d6 | 348 (55%) | |
| 5… a6 | 121 (19%) | |
| 5… Nf6 | 67 (11%) | |
| 5… d5 | 40 (6%) | |
| 5… Qa5+ | 33 (5%) | |
| 5… Bc5 | 7 (1%) | |
| 5… Bb4+ | 5 (1%) | |
| 5… Qb6 | 3 (0%) |
Master games
1,551 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 35%, draw 24%, Black 41%). The strongest:
- GM Levon Aronian (2744) – GM Praggnanandhaa R (2785) 1/2-1/2 · GCT Finals 2025 · 2025-10-01
- GM Gukesh D (2744) – GM Alireza Firouzja (2777) 0-1 · SuperUnited Blitz 2023 · 2023-07-09
- GM Peter Leko (2730) – GM Alexander Grischuk (2783) 0-1 · SportAccord Blitz Men 2013 · 2013-12-14
- GM Chithambaram VR. Aravindh (2700) – GM Erigaisi Arjun (2775) 1/2-1/2 · 88th Tata Steel Masters · 2026-01-25
- GM Peter Leko (2737) – GM Alexander Morozevich (2736) 1/2-1/2 · FIDE GP Beijing · 2013-07-09
Search all games of the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Szén Variation and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- IM Lenyas66 (2603) – Larrythecabledude (2663) 1-0 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 2s
- Batman412 (2593) – ramsou (2582) 1-0 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
- FM luisangel1808 (2530) – h5h6h7 (2585) 1-0 · 2026-09-01 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation (4. Nxd4 Nc6) 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6
Continuations
- Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Gary Gambit B44 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3 d5
- Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Modern Line B44 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3 Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O b6
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.