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Sicilian Defence: Taimanov, 5...a6 6.Nxc6 bxc6

Caruana–Topalov, Sinquefield Cup 2014 · Kuybokarov–van Foreest, 46th Olympiad 2026 · 6:14 · ECO B46

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In this video

Game 1: Fabiano Caruana (2801) vs Veselin Topalov (2772)

Sinquefield Cup 2014, 2 September 2014 · White won (1-0) · 31 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 7.Bd3The first move after the opening line0:32
  2. 24...fxe6The evaluation moves from +1.47 to +4.22, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here1:52
  3. 26...Rg7The evaluation moves from +4.28 to +6.682:02
  4. 29...Bf8The evaluation moves from +6.74 to +9.592:16
  5. 31.Bxg7White wins after 31 moves2:24

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

Game 2: Temur Kuybokarov (2534) vs Jorden van Foreest (2706)

46th Olympiad 2026, 18 September 2026 · Black won (0-1) · 45 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 7.Qd3The first move after the opening line2:56
  2. 21.c3The evaluation moves from −0.09 to −2.333:58
  3. 24...Nd3Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here4:15
  4. 25.Rd1The evaluation moves from −2.41 to −4.534:18
  5. 26.Nxe4The queens come off4:22
  6. 45...c2Black wins after 45 moves6:00

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

About these games

After 5...a6 White exchanges on c6 at once, and Black recaptures towards the centre with the b-pawn. Black gets a solid pawn mass on c6, d5 and e6 and a half-open b-file. In return the a6 and c6 pawns can become targets, and White aims to cramp Black with e4-e5 before Black's development is complete.

Caruana–Topalov followed the main line 7.Bd3 d5 8.O-O, and 10.e5 drove the knight from f6 to d7. After 11.Qg4 Black gave up castling with 11...Kf8 and later pushed ...h5 and ...h4 against the queen. White, at +1.10 after 16...h4, opened the position with the c4 break and doubled rooks on the e-file. The decisive blow was 24.Bxe6. After 24...fxe6 the score jumped from +1.47 to +4.22. White's rook check on f3 and 26.Qxe6 left the uncastled king exposed. 26...Rg7 made it +6.68 and 29...Bf8 +9.59, and White won with 31.Bxg7.

Kuybokarov–van Foreest went 7.Qd3 and 8.Qg3, a queen sortie instead of quiet development. Black gained space with 8...d4, and ...h5-h4 gained time against the queen. White's 21.c3 shifted the score from −0.09 to −2.33. After 22...Nxe5 Black was a pawn up, and 25.Rd1 made it −4.53. Unlike in Game 1, the queens came off with 26.Nxe4. The half-open b-file then collected White's queenside pawns, and the passed c-pawn decided the endgame. Black won after 45...c2.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Caruana vs Topalov, Sinquefield Cup 2014
  3. 2:33Game 2: Kuybokarov vs van Foreest, 46th Olympiad 2026

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6

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