Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Main Line

18/18
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a66.Bg5e67.f4Be78.Qf3Qc79.O-O-ONbd7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Main Line215k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
56%119k54%
26%55k58%
6.7%14k48%
4.3%9.3k51%
2.1%4.6k46%
1.1%2.3k52%
1%2.2k58%
0.8%1.7k46%
0.5%1.1k44%
0.4%77571%
Famous games in this line2.7k master games
Ivanchuk, Vassily (2746) – Topalov, Veselin (2812)20090–1Karjakin, Sergey (2757) – Ivanchuk, V. (2731)2015½–½Grischuk, A. (2732) – Aronian, L. (2742)20230–1Grischuk, Alexander (2756) – Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2713)20101–0Wang, Hao (2733) – Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2730)2012½–½Shirov, Alexei (2745) – Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2717)2009½–½Radjabov, Teimour (2717) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2731)2006½–½Spassky, Boris V (2660) – Fischer, Robert James (2785)1972½–½
Heroes of this opening Topalov, Veselin · Aronian, L. · Grischuk, Alexander
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B99
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7
Sharp
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Browne Variation8…h6 9.Bh4 Qc7Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Goteborg Variation8…h6 9.Bh4 g5Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Rauzer Attack5…Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.O-O-O …
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.

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