B98 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Traditional Line
16/16
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a66.Bg5e67.f4Be78.Qf3Qc7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Traditional Line280k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
O-O-O92%257k54%
Bd34.3%12k47%
g42.3%6.4k48%
Be20.8%2.4k48%
f50.3%77250%
Qg30.2%44453%
Bxf60.1%18739%
Nb30.1%17142%
h30.1%17044%
a40%13250%
Famous games in this line2.5k master games
Ivanchuk, Vassily (2746) – Topalov, Veselin (2812)Leko, Peter (2745) – Morozevich, Alexander (2745)Karjakin, Sergey (2757) – Ivanchuk, V. (2731)Grischuk, A. (2732) – Aronian, L. (2742)Grischuk, Alexander (2756) – Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2713)Wang, Hao (2733) – Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2730)Shirov, Alexei (2745) – Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2717)Radjabov, Teimour (2717) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2731)Heroes of this opening Topalov, Veselin · Leko, Peter · Aronian, L. · Grischuk, Alexander
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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 Qc7
Sharp
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Najdorf VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →Study this opening elsewhere