Sicilian Taimanov - What do you know?

I've made a Sicilian Taimanov tournament, but I know almost nothing about the opening other than...it appeals to me from the twice I've played it and I love that it isn't the Najdorf or the Dragon.

Does anyone know anything about it?  

For those rated 1400 - 1900 and interested in joining the tournament:  

http://www.chess.com/tournament/sicilian-taimanov-variation

Karl...this database calls it Paulsen...but the rest of the internet seems to call it the Taimanov?  Not sure.  

According to MCO 15 the Taimanov is the position after:

 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nc6

The Paulen is the position after:

 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 a6

MCO-15 (pp 302, 303) describes these variations "close cousins".  I can tell from experience that they often transpose into the same lines.  Black has to be careful not to play passively in any of these lines or he'll get all his pieces tied up on the back rank.  It's happened to me plenty of times. 

Yes, also if I'm not mistaken 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6; that is a variation of the Taimanov, so it can be seen that the two versions are closely related. 

thanks, you guys.  this database doesn't even include Taimanov for some reason.  Nor does it have the Sveshnikov, I think.  

Eternal Patzer...glad you mentioned not playing passively.  I'll be conscious of that.  I'm particularly interested in this line:

 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 

Here for your amusement is a sad example from my own praxis of how NOT to play the Taimanov.  Notes are by the Chess.com analysis computer.  Notice how it gets harder and harder for Black to find active moves, until finally he just outright blunders.  (see move list for variations)

WARNING:  Black's ugly play may frighten small children.

The main difference between choosing 5...a6, and 5...Qc7 is whether you like playing against 6NxN or not after 5...a6. Otherwise they can transpose. Taimanov himself mostly played 5...a6 because liked following up with Ne7 against many of white's other 6th move. This idea doesn't have such a high reputation these days.

Delchev has an excellent book based around 5...Qc7 and more center based play with Nf6 called the "Safest Sicillian" from chess stars.

Taimanov name was banned from Russia, thats why the variation uses the name of Paulsen, at least thats what I heard from Shirov videos on CB.

"As a kid, all chess books I had na,ed this the Paulsen variation of the sicilian"

Ok.  Whatever it's called...it looks like the Bastrikov line has become the main line and it appears to be just as good as the Najdorf or Dragon, but I don't know for sure?

taimanov, kan and paulsen are all very closely related..

If I remember correctly the knight goes to c6 in the kan but not the taimanov.

Was there something specific you wanted to know about the opening? 

As far as I know 6 Nxc6 is OK for White.  It's not as popular  as some other lines, but certainly seems to be playable.  My database gives it a better overall score for White than 6. Be2 (58% vs 54%) although it isn't played as much.

I don't think 11 ...g6 by itself was the problem for me, but mindlessly playing the followup move 12 ...Bg7?? was a BIG problem.   The reason, of course, is that after 11...g6 White played the dubious 12 Na4?! and I should have pounced on it tactically with 12 ...Qa7+! (13 Kh1  Qd4!) when Black has turned the tables on White and is better.

This is a good example of where NO plan (just looking for the best for move on the board) is better than a BAD plan (i.e. g6, followed by Bg7 no matter what).

Moral of story -- if you are playing the Black side of the Taimanov (most Sicilians for that matter) always be on the lookout for the best move tactically. If you miss that golden opportunity in a Sicilian you may not get another chance.

 I would like to join but it doesn't like my higher than 10% timeout ratio :(

I think Paulsen is synonymous with the Kan, not Taimanov.

The Most Flexible Sicilian by Delchev and Semkov is a very recent source on the Taimanov and the Kan. Sicilian Taimanov: Move by Move (Emms) and Play the Sicilian Kan (Hellsten) are some earlier titles by Everyman. Emms is probably the most readable to someone learning the opening for the first time.

You are basically right, Bobbarooski.  However it is acceptable to refer to any 2...e6 Sicilian as Paulsen.

Are you aware that the Paulsen derives its name from Wilfried Paulsen?

His brother Louis Paulsen was the stronger player, but Wilfried is credited with originating 2...e6 variations.

#bacon