1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Be2 opens the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation (6.Be3), ECO B49. With 310,231 games on record, the patterns below come from the largest practical sample available.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack. Among the most prolific White practitioners are Falko Bindrich (12 games), Alexei Shirov (10 games), Ante Brkic (9 games). Black-side regulars include Mark E Taimanov (11 games), Hansjuerg Kaenel (10 games), Igor Miladinovic (10 games).
Performance Across Rating Levels
The picture changes a lot as you climb the rating ladder. At 1200 Elo, the opening shows up in 0.00% of games (2,907 samples). White scores 47.1%, Black 50.7%, draws 2.3%. At 1800 the opening surfaces in 0.01% of games; White wins 44%, Black 51.2%, draws 4.9%. At the top end (2500+ Elo), popularity is 0.02% with 10.1% draws — a clear sign of how much theory rules the line at master level. Positions also become less sharp as level rises (sharpness 0.98 → 0.90).
Move Diversity and Theory Depth
What players actually play after the opening moves depends heavily on rating. At 1200 Elo, the top reply is Nf6, played 48.7% of the time. There are 3 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 81.6% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 2.31. By 2500, Nf6 dominates at 82.5% of replies; only 2 viable alternatives remain and 99.1% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 0.77. That entropy collapse is the signature of a line where preparation pays off: at the top, players know the best move and play it.
Historical Trends
Tracking the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation (6.Be3) year over year shows a clear story. Adoption peaked in 2015 at 0.01% (2,514 games). By 2025 it sits at 0.01% — a 12% shift overall, leaving the line on the rise.
Common Mistakes
- Drifting away from main theory — At 400 Elo, theory adherence sits at 87.1% — versus 95% at 2000. The most popular deviation is b5 (played 32.3% of the time at 400, much less so up top). It looks fine but quietly hands the better-prepared side an edge.
- Neglecting development — It can feel productive to make extra pawn moves early, but falling behind in piece development is what loses most amateur games — especially in open positions where active pieces find squares fast.
- Ignoring the kingside attack — In sharp Sicilian lines, White typically castles long and pushes the h-pawn. Without your own counterplay on the queenside or in the centre, White's attack lands first.
Practice on Chessiverse
Ready to try the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation (6.Be3) against a bot? Pick an opponent at your level and play a game.
