Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation, Modern Line

16/16
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a66.Be2e57.Nb3Be78.O-OBe6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation, Modern Line121k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
32%38k49%
29%35k53%
15%18k53%
8.8%11k46%
3.9%4.8k47%
3.1%3.7k46%
2.7%3.2k51%
1.4%1.7k48%
1.2%1.5k47%
1.2%1.4k49%
Famous games in this line893 master games
Anand, Viswanathan (2769) – Kasparov, Garry (2851)20000–1Leko, Peter (2730) – Anand, Viswanathan (2794)2001½–½Ye, Jiangchuan (2677) – Kasparov, Garry (2838)20010–1Polgar, Judit (2718) – Anand, Viswanathan (2774)20030–1Nepomniachtchi, I. (2749) – Grischuk, A. (2742)2017½–½Svidler, Peter (2735) – Grischuk, Alexander (2710)2005½–½Korobov, A.. (2683) – Vachier Lagrave, M.. (2749)2021½–½Oll, Lembit (2615) – Kasparov, Garry (2805)1994½–½
Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Anand, Viswanathan
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B92
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O Be6
Sharp
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Najdorf VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Gary Gambit2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 …Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Traditional Line6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Bird Variation2…Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …
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
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