Theoria
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Sicilian Defense

Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, Ponomariov Gambit

B47gambittacticaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4c5
  2. 2.Nf3e6
  3. 3.d4cxd4
  4. 4.Nxd4Nc6
  5. 5.Nc3Qc7
  6. 6.Ndb5Qb8
  7. 7.Be3a6
  8. 8.Bb6
94 games52%45%

A Taimanov Sicilian sideline in which White answers 7...a6 with 8. Bb6, giving up the b5-knight for activity; engines favor Black.

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About the Ponomariov Gambit

In the Bastrikov line after 6. Ndb5 Qb8 7. Be3 a6, White does not retreat the attacked knight but plays 8. Bb6, sacrificing it in order to post the bishop deep in Black's queenside, where it covers c7 and d8 near the black queen. Nearly every game continues 8...axb5. The engine rates the piece offer as favoring Black, though White has scored slightly better in the small online sample. The gambit is rarely seen.

Popular continuations