Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation

The Bastrikov Variation is the Taimanov line in which Black meets 5. Nc3 with 5...Qc7. The queen goes at once to a safe square with good scope, covering e5 and the c-file, while the decisions about the king's knight, the d-pawn and the dark-squared bishop are postponed. It has become the preferred route into the Taimanov because it sidesteps 5...a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3. The engine gives White a slight edge, but Black scores marginally better in online games.

The most common reply, 6. Be3, is the English Attack. The bishop protects the d4-knight against a later ...Nxd4, and White can either castle long with 6...a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. O-O-O or play 7. Bd3 and castle short. The quieter 6. Be2 leaves the queen's defense of d4 unobstructed and prepares short castling, as in 6...a6 7. O-O. White can also exchange immediately with 6. Nxc6. The most aggressive option is 6. Ndb5, which harasses the queen; after 6...Qb8 7. Be3 a6, the Ponomariov Gambit continues 8. Bb6, leaving the b5-knight to be taken.