This is a problem.  White's position in this "ultimate main line" of the Taimanov is, fairly simply, good.  Black isn't in trouble, but even with good play by Black White should not be in much danger of losing.  There are always just enough tactics with the two Bishops to keep Black from executing any really active plan.

For what it's worth, I play into the line anyway.

I think 8...b5 (or 7...b5) is probably fine, as are the ...d6 approaches (of which the best is possibly 8...Be7 and only then ...d6 when necessary).  But the former is always a bit dull (If I defend my d7 pawn, which is easy, I draw!), and the latter requires that you play the Be2 Scheveningen, which is both incredibly theoretical and in no way safe for Black (or White, for that matter, but you know what I mean).

lnn2 wrote on 12/05/13 at 02:50:29:


I'm confused about Gewgaw's comment; I had assumed he meant 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qc7, a line which I have one fond memory of: I played a really nice game and beat a FM after 5. c4  Nf6 6. Nc3 Nxe4 7. Nxe4 Qe5, though of course it had nothing to do with the opening.

For that game I altered my usual 2...e6 move order because I didn't want to face 5.Nb5 d6 6.Bf4, which my opponent had played against me previously.  I don't understand Gewgaw's comment though, as I don't think Black has any particularly great deviations if White develops in classical fashion with 5.Nc3, 6.Be2, 7.0-0, etc.  

Regarding the Kan move order, in my mind one of the big "problems" (at least in a philosophical sense) is what to do after 4...a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2.  Again you have to choose between the 8...Bb4 line, 8...Be7 line, or one of the 7...b5 or 8...b5 lines, all mentioned above.  The only uniquely "Kan" way of playing that I'm aware of is the immediate 6...b5 with the idea of NOT playing ...Nc6 any time soon, but I've never entirely trusted those lines and always transposed to a Taimanov when my Kan games have gone this way.  Of course Black can play 5...b5 instead of 5...Qc7 there, but after 6.Bd3 Qb6 7.Nf3! I've never been very comfortable with the Black pieces.

It's all a bit mess, but I refrained from saying "Paulsen" anywhere above to minimize the confusion .  

Thanks Kylemeister - yes that line is what I am thinking of. I guess the point is that ...Na5 is possible with the 5... a6 move order because after Nxa5 Qxa5 Blacks queen goes to a5 in one move rather than stopping on c7 first. I am very interested in that "Secrets from Russia" book. Can't seem to find reviews though- is that book still worth getting?

gewgaw wrote on 12/04/13 at 15:29:31:


Really, his book on the Najdorf covers what I think of as a Classical Scheveningen?  I had no idea.  Is it just a brief mention or does he actually make it his main recommendation via some move order?

lnn2 wrote on 12/03/13 at 15:48:15:


Black's prob in the Be2 + Na4 line: nearly no winning chances, check the database: a few wins by white, many draws, that's it. So it depends on my opponent: under 2000 I take the "risk" to play 8. ...Bb4, because he probably won't play 9.Na4, but 9.f3, over 2000 I play 8. ...Be7 and rely on Ftacnik's GM 6 sicilian najdorf, but this means lots of work. 

So I thought about to play 4. ...Qc7: it's surprising, that there are nearly no sources to this line except of an old book by Burgess (year +-2000).

I think that 7...b5 is probably better than its reputation but don't have any real theory or innovative ideas to show you.  Also there is 8...b5!?, waiting for the Bishop to commit to e3.  I'm curious about these moves but don't have any ideas to contribute at the moment.