B98 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Goteborg Variation
18/18
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a66.Bg5e67.f4Be78.Qf3h69.Bh4g5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Goteborg Variation8.6k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
fxg595%8.2k45%
Bf22.4%20351%
Bg31.9%16551%
e50.2%2048%
f50%450%
Kd20%1100%
Nxe60%10%
Qh30%10%
Famous games in this line98 master games
Zhigalko, Sergei (2649) – Safarli, Eltaj (2645)Balogh, Csaba (2601) – Negi, Parimarjan (2618)Korneev, Oleg (2602) – Cheparinov, Ivan (2572)Li, Chao B (2619) – Xiu, Deshun (2508)Mikhalchishin, Adrian (2535) – Kupreichik, Viktor D (2580)Shabalov, Alexander (2601) – Sadvakasov, Darmen (2509)Balogh, Csaba (2601) – Grigoryan, Karen H (2463)Gheorghiu, Florin (2545) – Matulovic, Milan (2510)Heroes of this opening Xiu, Deshun · Shabalov, Alexander · Balogh, Csaba
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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.
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B98
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 h6 9. Bh4 g5
Sharp
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Najdorf VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →Study this opening elsewhere