Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack, Anti-English
12/12
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a66.Be3Ng4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack, Anti-English190k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
34%64k51%
16%30k43%
15%29k53%
13%26k45%
6.9%13k28%
3.6%6.9k43%
3.2%6.1k51%
2.4%4.5k43%
1.8%3.5k44%
1.1%2.2k38%
Famous games in this line4.1k master games
Carlsen, M. (2861) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2780)Carlsen, M. (2857) – Grischuk, A. (2754)Shirov, Alexei (2751) – Kasparov, Garry (2851)Shirov, Alexei (2751) – Kasparov, Garry (2851)So, W. (2815) – Giri, A. (2785)Anand, Viswanathan (2770) – Kasparov, Garry (2825)Anand, Viswanathan (2770) – Kasparov, Garry (2825)Giri, A. (2769) – Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2819)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Anand, Viswanathan
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- 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 6. Be3 Ng4
SharpAggressive
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Najdorf VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
No reply to 1.e4 is played more. Fischer made the Najdorf his main weapon, and Kasparov's Sicilians are pillars of chess history — the Scheveningen against Karpov, the Dragon he unveiled against Anand in 1995. When you play 1...c5 you refuse symmetry, the same refusal that carried two world champions.
Study this opening