Chessy
Sicilian Taimanov: Bb5 – Playing as Black
The Sicilian Taimanov is a flexible, high-class opening that lets Black fight for the initiative without the heavy theory of the Najdorf or the Dragon. After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5, White attacks your knight and threatens to double your pawns on the c-file. The standard reply is 5...Qb6, which immediately asks White a question: what do you plan to do about your bishop on b5? The stats are clear: over 9,000 games in the database, Black scores an impressive 56.4% from this position. That is no accident — you are the one with the easier play. Jump into the drill below and see how the engine handles your tricky queen move.
Play the Sicilian Taimanov: Bb5 against the engine
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Create a free account →Why 5...Qb6 Works So Well
With 5...Qb6 you attack the b5-bishop and put immediate pressure on White's position. White cannot simply retreat the bishop to a comfortable square — if they try 6.Be3, the engine says that is a mistake worth about 2.4 pawns. The point is that after 6.Be3, your queen attacks b2, and White has to waste time dealing with threats instead of developing naturally. Your queen is surprisingly active on b6, eyeing the b2-pawn and the sensitive d4-knight. Black's winning percentage of 56.4% in the database proves that this is not just a tricky move — it is a principled, sound way to play for an advantage. You are not trying to trick anyone; you are asking White to prove they know what they are doing.
The Critical Moment: White's Best Continuation
Stockfish evaluates the position after 5...Qb6 at +0.08 — essentially dead equal. The engine's top recommendation for White is 6.Nxc6, swapping the knight for your c6-knight, followed by 6...bxc6 7.Bd3 d5. In this line you get the open b-file for your rook, a solid pawn centre with ...d5, and the two bishops. White's bishop retreats to d3, which is a decent square but not scary. This is a perfectly playable Sicilian middlegame where you have easy development and clear plans: castle kingside, put your bishop on e7 or b7, and target White's centre with ...c5 or ...d4 ideas. If White chooses something else, you are already outplaying them statistically.
Punishing White's Common Mistakes
Many White players do not handle the pressure of 5...Qb6 well. Here are the most frequent errors from the database and what they cost White: - Be3 (585 games, White scores just 32.0%): A mistake worth about 2.4 pawns. White drops the bishop to a square where it obstructs their own development and leaves b2 hanging. You can follow up with ...Nxd4 Bxd4 Qxb2, winning a clean pawn. - Nc3 (448 games, White scores 27.5%): A blunder losing ~3.3 pawns. White develops a piece but ignores the threat to the b5-bishop. Simply ...Qxb5 wins a piece. - a4 (188 games, White scores 30.3%): Another blunder costing ~3.7 pawns. White tries to drive your queen away, but again ...Qxb5 picks up the bishop. The message is clear: if White does not know to play 6.Nxc6, you get a free advantage immediately.
The Most Popular Reply: 6.Bxc6
The most common move White plays is 6.Bxc6 (5,792 games), which exchanges their bishop for your knight. Despite being popular, White only scores 42.8% from here. After 6.Bxc6 you recapture with ...dxc6 (keeping your pawn structure flexible and opening the d-file for your rook). Now White has given up the bishop pair and you have easy development. Your queen on b6 is still active, your dark-squared bishop is ready to go to e7 or d6, and you can castle quickly. The position is slightly more comfortable for Black because White's knight on d4 is a target and your bishop pair gives long-term pressure. This is a great practical outcome for you.
Results across 9,019 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bxc6 | 5,792 | 42.8% |
| Nxc6 | 1,700 | 44.4% |
| Be3 | 585 | 32.0% |
| Nc3 | 448 | 27.5% |
| a4 | 188 | 30.3% |
| c3 | 88 | 29.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is 5...Qb6 a good move for Black in the Sicilian Taimanov?
Yes — it is the most principled and statistically successful reply. In 9,019 games from this position, Black wins 56.4% of the time. The move attacks White's b5-bishop and forces White to react carefully. If White does not know the correct response (6.Nxc6), you can gain a serious advantage.
How should Black respond if White plays 6.Be3?
6.Be3 is actually a mistake worth about 2.4 pawns. You can simply take on d4 with your knight: 6...Nxd4 7.Bxd4 Qxb2, winning a pawn. White's bishop on e3 blocks their own e-pawn and leaves b2 undefended. This is exactly the kind of tactical point that makes 5...Qb6 so effective.
What is White's best move against the Taimanov Bb5 with 5...Qb6?
The engine recommends 6.Nxc6, exchanging knights and then retreating the bishop to d3. This leads to the line 6...bxc6 7.Bd3 d5, where the position is roughly equal (+0.08). You get easy play with the open b-file and a solid centre.
Why does Black have a higher winning percentage than White in this line?
Black scores 56.4% because many White players mishandle the position. The most common move, 6.Bxc6, is not the engine's first choice and White only scores 42.8% from it. Moves like 6.Be3, 6.Nc3, and 6.a4 are outright mistakes that cost White multiple pawns. Practically, Black has more straightforward plans and White has more ways to go wrong.