Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack

The English Attack is White's most common answer to the Bastrikov Variation. 6. Be3 develops the dark-squared bishop to a square where it guards the d4-knight, so a later ...Nxd4 does not win time. It also leaves White free to choose a plan. The aggressive route is 6...a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. O-O-O, putting the kings on opposite wings and leading to a race of attacks. The calmer 6...a6 7. Bd3 prepares short castling and a more positional middlegame. The name echoes the English Attack against the Najdorf, which uses a similar scheme with Be3, Qd2 and O-O-O.

Black almost always replies 6...a6. This takes b5 away from White's knights, which rules out Ndb5 ideas against the queen, and keeps ...b5 available for queenside play. The main alternative, 6...Nf6, is played far less often. The rare 6...Bb4 does poorly for Black in practice. The engine rates the position as close to balanced, with a slight lean toward White, and prefers ...a6, ...Nf6 or ...Be7. In online games Black scores marginally better than White.