← All openings
B90 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation

10/10
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation14.1M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
f37.9%1.1M52%
a43.8%540k48%
Famous games in this line127k master games
Carlsen, M. (2876)Grischuk, A. (2781)20151–0Ding, Liren (2791)Carlsen, Magnus (2863)20200–1Ding, Liren (2791)Carlsen, Magnus (2863)20201–0Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Ding, Liren (2791)20201–0Carlsen, M. (2872)Vachier Lagrave, M. (2780)2019½–½Carlsen, M. (2872)Vachier Lagrave, M. (2780)20190–1Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2784)Carlsen, Magnus (2863)20200–1Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2784)Carlsen, Magnus (2863)20201–0
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Ding, Liren · Vachier Lagrave, M. · Nepomniachtchi, Ian
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives

No defense has won more games at every level than the Sicilian. Bobby Fischer played almost nothing else against 1.e4, and Kasparov's Najdorf battles with Karpov and Anand are pillars of chess history. When you play 1...c5, you're refusing symmetry — the same refusal that carried two world champions.

Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B90
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6
Sharp
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Najdorf VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
Study this opening elsewhere