My Taimanov Sicilian 

The camp My Taimanov Sicilian is now available as a digital product! This comprehensive course includes all the videos from the camp as well as the PGN file related to the training sessions. The material consists of 10.5 hours of video and a PGN database with 178 files!

In the current course, you’ll find the following lectures:

✅Typical Strategies - Part 1

✅Typical Strategies - Part 2

✅Lines with 0-0 - Part 1

✅Lines with 0-0 - Part 2

✅Lines with 0-0 - Part 3

✅Lines with 0-0-0 - Part 1 

✅Lines with 0-0-0 - Part 2

Now, we shall take a look at the different lectures.

Typical Strategies - Part 1

The starting position of the Taimanov Sicilian arises after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Qc7

This system offers the perfect balance between strategic clarity and attacking potential.

In this introductory lecture, GM Ioannis Papaioannou focuses on the essential strategic ideas that every Taimanov player must know. You’ll learn how to execute the key plans such as ...a6, ...b5, and ...Bb7, along with typical transpositions into the Scheveningen setup, where Black gains queenside space and long-term structural advantages.

Understanding these core concepts will provide the foundation you need to navigate the upcoming theoretical chapters with confidence and insight.

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Typical Strategies - Part 2

In this lecture, GM Ioannis Papaioannou expands on the strategic foundations laid out in Part 1, introducing more key ideas for Black in the Taimanov Sicilian. The focus is on recognizing typical patterns, tactical motifs, and strategic plans that arise across different variations.

Papaioannou emphasizes a fundamental principle of opening mastery: to truly excel, it’s not enough to memorize theory—you must understand the ideas behind the moves. By studying carefully selected model games, you’ll sharpen your intuition and develop a practical feel for the Taimanov.

This session is an essential step in transforming knowledge into mastery.

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Lines with 0-0 - Part 1

In this lecture, GM Ioannis Papaioannou dives into the strategic depths of one of the most important branches of the Taimanov Sicilian, arising after:

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

From this position, White has several key options, including 6.g3, 6.Nxc6, and 6.Nb5. Each of these leads to unique pawn structures and middlegame plans.

Papaioannou begins by explaining how to react to early deviations like 5.Nb5, 5.Bf4, or 5.c4, showing how Black can seize the initiative with accurate play—especially with resources like the powerful …Qb6.

This lecture equips you with a solid understanding of White’s main setups and how to respond confidently as Black, setting the stage for deeper theoretical exploration in the following sessions.

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Lines with 0-0 - Part 2

In this lecture, GM Ioannis Papaioannou continues his deep dive into the key variations where White castles kingside against the Taimanov Sicilian. Building on the ideas from Part 1, the focus here shifts toward critical continuations and modern move orders that challenge Black’s setup.

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Lines with 0-0 - Part 3

This final lecture on the 0-0 setups wraps up the kingside castling systems in the Taimanov Sicilian. GM Papaioannou highlights the remaining key ideas and plans, helping you solidify your understanding and confidently face these lines in practice.

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Lines with 0-0-0 - Part 1

In this lecture, GM Papaioannou begins exploring White's most aggressive setup — the English Attack with queenside castling. You’ll learn a solid and practical system for Black, designed to meet this dangerous plan head-on with confidence and clarity.

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Lines with 0-0-0 - Part 2

The last lecture features one of the most important position in the entire Taimanov Sicilian arising after the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qf3!

This is very popular and has clearly been the main line for the last few years! Here, Papaioannou suggests 7...d6!?

Among the various possible lines against 7.Qf3, the move 7...d6 is comparatively less studied and very interesting! The basic idea is to play a fast ...Bd7-Rc8 and quite often ...b5! (watch out for possible sacrifices with  Bxb5!) The good thing about 7...d6!? is that it's pretty much the only variation after 7.Qf3 where there is free play - for both sides! After every move, each side has up to 3-4 logical moves, which makes concrete preparation impossible! The fact that the engine is sceptical of d6, in fact, makes it even stronger! The practical value of += or =+ is very small in such complicated positions since the value of each move can be very high, and evaluations may quickly change! So, take my advice and forget about the patzer's approach of pressing space buttons and focus instead on the typical strategies for both sides! This is what will bring success in the very complicated 7.Qf3! variation of the Taimanov!

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