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Faithful readers of my reviews will recall that I’ve been curious about the Taimanov Sicilian for some time now.  Though it’s not my main defense to 1.e4, I’ve always been attracted to its simplicity – relative to the Sicilian in general, that is.  It’s less theoretical and much safer than something like the Sicilian Dragon, but it still has the potential for double-edged attacks and counter-attacks when necessary.  In fact, the only problem with the Taimanov to my mind was the serious lack of decent literature devoted to it!

In recent times, this has begun to change.  Graham Burgess’ The Taimanov Sicilian is an excellent theoretical manual published in 2002, and last year saw Alexander Delchev’s The Safest Sicilian, a fantastic Taimanov-based repertoire book.  Still lacking, though was a good pedagogical manual on the Taimanov.  At long last, we have one – thanks to James Rizzitano and Gambit Publications and their excellent book The Taimanov Sicilian.

Table of Contents (after the usual acknowledgments, bibliography, etc.):

Introduction                                                                              5
1 Probing Bishop and Maroczy Bind Variations: 5 Nb5             8
2 Taimanov Introduction: 5 Nc3 a6                                           24
3 White’s Sixth-Move Alternatives: 5 Nc3 Qc7                        40
4 Flexible Variation: 5 Nc3 Qc7 6 Be2                                     55
5 Sharp Variation: 5 Nc3 Qc7 6 Be3                                        66
6 Paulsen Main Line: 5 Nc3 Qc7 6 Be3 a6 7 Be2                     87
List of Games                                                                           109
Index of Variations                                                                   110

The introduction is short, but useful.  The author spends a couple of pages telling us about the strategic features of the Taimanov (in general terms, of course), and then breaking down the variations and nomenclature.  The latter is particularly helpful for those new to the variation, especially in terms of keep the terms “Taimanov” and “Paulsen” straight (in most English works, the “Paulsen” refers to the modern main line of the Taimanov, as the table of contents above suggests).

The bulk of the book is made up of illustrative games with variations and explanatory text.  Despite the claims of the back cover, there’s nothing particularly new about this approach to teaching openings, but it’s an effective method, and one well enacted here.  There are 25 games total: chapter one contains four games, chapter two contains four, chapter three contains four, chapter four contains three, chapter five contains five, and chapter six contains five.  This distribution seems about right to me.  The last chapter focuses on the main line, and the fifth chapter focuses on a very popular system for White, so those two chapters ought to have the most games.  Chapter four involves lines that are arguably less theoretical than others, so a mere three games is probably appropriate.

The text contains a good blend of theory and explanation, leaning a bit toward the explanation, which is exactly what is needed in a pedagogical text.  Rizzitano does a good job of pointing out important strategic factors.  A couple of short excerpts demonstrate this:

[From chapter one, after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5]

Advocates of this move consider it to be the most principled continuation here – White seeks to exploit the temporary vulnerability of the d6-square.  Most Taimanov Sicilian players do not fear the knight expedition because White has made a third move with his only developed piece.  An interesting battle of chess ideas has already materialized on move five – White’s multiple knight moves to exploit a potentially weak square, versus Black’s belief in the benefits of having the extra pawn.

[After a further 5…d6 6.Bf4 e5 7.Be3 Nf6 8.Bg5]

White makes a third move with his dark-squared bishop, but the idea is consistent with the plan initiated by 5.Nb5 – White seeks to remove a defender of the d5 square.  The alternative is 8.N1c3 a6 9.Na3 (play has transposed into a harmless sideline of the Sveshnikov Variation – ECO code B33) 9…Rb8! (this subtle move was endorsed by Fischer in My 60 Memorable Games) 10.Nd5 (White achieves nothing after 10.Nc4 b5 {notes that the b6-square is well-covered} 11.Nd2 d5 with equal chances – Black frees his position and eliminates his backward d-pawn) [etc.]

Another excerpt:

[From chapter five, after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3]

This is the Sharp Variation – White develops his dark-squared bishop to an aggressive square and lends support to his d4-knight.  The bishop also aims at Black’s queenside – after Black plays the inevitable …a6, the pressure against the b6-square is important in many variations.

6…a6

We have already seen that this move is almost obligatory in most lines – Black needs to control the b5-square, particularly when his queen is on c7.

7.Qd2

Shabalov employs the currently fashionable English Attack formation [ . . . ]

7…Nf6 8.f3

White prevents ideas involving …Ng4 [ . . . ]

8…d5!?

I had examined this rare line during 2004 while preparing to return to competitive chess after a fifteen-year break.  Black’s idea is to challenge White in the center before determining the optimal squares for his minor pieces.  The idea of playing …d7-d5 in one move is theoretically crucial because Black does not have this opportunity when fighting against most other English Attack formations – for example, in comparison to the Najdorf Sicilian Black has already played …d6, so a subsequent …d5 concedes a tempo.

I’m really impressed with how thorough and helpful the explanations are.  I’m quite sure that anyone interesting in taking up the Taimanov would learn a lot from this book – in fact, the average club player would probably be able to make do with this as his or her one and only Taimanov book.  Higher-level players who already understand the general ideas in various Sicilian lines might find the book’s explanations too simplistic, but even then I imagine they would appreciate the theoretical overview and the excellent illustrative games.  As such, I’d strongly recommend this book to the class player, and more tentatively to the expert or higher-rated player.

Copyright 2007 S. Evan Kreider.  Used with permission.
 

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