Why is the sicilian taimanov so strong and not so much played ?

It's the only sicilian where Black and not white gets the initiative in the start of the game (When black plays Bb4, White suffers a lot to defend the e4 pawn and most times lose it). Why isn't it much played in the high levels ?

I'm not sure but I think it's a matter of fashion. The kings's indian was considered dubious by players like Petrosian but then Kasparov came along and combined his superior opening preparation with his powerful dynamic play. He revived the king's indian somehow until Kramnik came along and had much success with the bayonet attack.

Kramnik also introduced the russian defense as a defense against e4 on high level chess. Later he helped the berlin defense to greater popularity. So the current world champion has also an influence on what is played on top level and to some extent on amateurs.

Alekhine and Capablanca played the queens gambit (declined) a lot actually if I'm not mistaken in every game of their world championship match. And it was a pretty popular defense against 1.d4 in that time.

I think the sames goes for the sicilian taimanov. But I'm not strong enough to make any objective evaluation.

It makes sense...

I get it, in the Class level the taimanov destroys white, but with the GM defense technique that doesn't happen.

I have the feeling that some openings are easier to play on amateur level because they have a straight forward plan while the defender/or attacker has to find really weird moves to keep him in the game.

Take the benko gambit for example while black's play and plans are really clear(attacking the queens side be using the half open a- and b-file and pieces) whites plan consists of really subtle moves like for example Rb1 which are really difficult to find on lower levels (again I'm not talking about masters or really strong player like over 2000)

actually it is played a lot at Gm levels..if you follow recent tournaments in last couple years you will see its popularity had increased..even GM Delchev, Taimanov specialist, observed the same in one of his recent books. Regarding your point about initiative though, there are actually a couplr lines where White gets a little more of the fun than Black.

agreed with mckn3hd

I see that some things have changed. I apologize for the misinformation. I looked up some games and I saw GM Anish Giri has it in his repertoire.

The November 2017 issue of Chess lists the top twenty openings compiled from a list of 2402 September games where both players were rated over 2400 Elo. One can not take position on this list too seriously because it is greatly influenced by how the openings are grouped. For example, all the Retis are grouped together, while English is separated into 1...c5, 1...e5, etc. Nevertheless, for what it is worth, some of the list entries are: 126 Retis, 100 King's Indians, 97 Nimzo-Indians, 84 Caro-Kanns, 76 declined Queen's Gambits, 73 Slavs, 63 Catalans, 61 Najdorf Sicilians, 58 1...c5 Englishes, 55 Berlin Lopezes, 55 Queen's Indians, 49 Guioco Pianos, 48 1...e5 Englishes, 45 Kan Sicilians, 43 1...Nf6 Englishes, and 42 Taimanov Sicilians.

The , cough, rarely played Taimanov sicilian scored the first win in the Anish Giri Cup, https://en.chessbase.com/post/london-classic-round-4-caruana-breaks-the-deadlock.  After another recent thread were according to chess com opening forum dragon can't be played, it's almost if the top players are going out of there way to show people in this forum don't know what they are talking about .

Caruana just beat Karjakin with the Taimanov a day or two ago.  It is used at the top level, just not quite as common as the Najdorf (the Najdorf is a tad more dynamic).  Both are top tier openings, obviously.  

Kasparov also revived the Bishop's Opening. It has been out of fashion and considered weak for 60 years when I began to teach it to the very successful high school chess team I coached.  There were so few books on it that we relied on a Russian postal chess champion's obscure book and one by Gary Lane.  I chose the opening because it leads to predictable middle games and I wanted my players to use to openings to set up their middle game plans which can be as simple as Castle Queenside and then launch a Pawn Storm against Black's K-side castled King.  We spent much time at club meetings playing it and playing it.

We rode the Bishop's Opening to victory after victory - three straight county championships in the state's toughest county, three team trophies in the state championships.  No one was prepared for us!

And then Kasparov played the Bishop's Opening in an important game!  Suddenly everyone knew it and our team was still strong, but we lost our secret weapon!