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
92%257k54%
4.3%12k47%
2.3%6.4k48%
0.8%2.4k48%
0.3%77250%
0.2%44453%
0.1%18739%
0.1%17142%
0.1%17044%
0%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
- 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 →Keep exploring
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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