Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation : Ask Biography

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The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence is one of the most respected and deeply studied of all chess openings. Modern Chess Openings calls it the Cadillac or Rolls Royce of chess openings. The opening is named after the Polish-Argentinian Grandmaster Miguel Najdorf. Many players have lived by the Najdorf (notably Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov, although Garry Kasparov would often transpose into a Scheveningen).

It begins thus:

:1. e4 c5

:2. Nf3 d6

:3. d4 cxd4

:4. Nxd4 Nf6

:5. Nc3 a6

Black's fifth move, 5... a6, aims to deny White the b5-square to his knights and light-squared bishop while maintaining flexibility in development.

If Black immediately plays 5...e5?! then after 6.Bb5+! Bd7 (or 6...Nd7 7.Nf5) 7.Bxd7+ Nxd7 8.Nf5 and the knight on f5 is difficult to dislodge without concessions.

Black's plan is usually to start a minority attack on the queenside and exert pressure on White's e4-pawn, which is often carried out by means of ...b5, ...Bb7, and placing a knight on c5.