Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Scheveningen Variation

14/14
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a66.Be2e67.O-ONbd7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Scheveningen Variation20k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
28%5.5k46%
21%4.1k49%
19%3.7k43%
12%2.3k50%
4.4%86341%
4.2%83852%
2.6%50944%
1.9%37943%
1.7%33939%
1.2%24441%
Famous games in this line318 master games
Anand, Viswanathan (2735)Polgar, Judit (2665)19961–0Popov, Ivan (2632)Smirin, Ilia (2663)20130–1Ivanchuk, Vassily (2787)Almeida Quintana, Omar (2502)20071–0Hracek, Zbynek (2615)Movsesian, Sergei (2650)19991–0Kravtsiv, M. (2563)Fedorchuk, S. (2673)20140–1Lintchevski, D. (2561)Kovalenko, I. (2667)20161–0Lintchevski, Daniil (2543)Inarkiev, Ernesto (2679)20110–1Sengupta, D. (2570)Kamsky, G. (2637)20160–1
Heroes of this opening Anand, Viswanathan · Smirin, Ilia · Ivanchuk, Vassily · Hracek, Zbynek
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B84
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Nbd7
Sharp
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Najdorf VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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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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