Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)

Play as BlackDefence

Fight for the center asymmetrically and create real winning chances with Black.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 Be7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. g4 b5

1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
1... c5 — The Sicilian: fight for the center asymmetrically, with a wing pawn.
2. Nf3 — Develop a knight and prepare d4.
2... d6 — Control e5 and free the bishop.
3. d4 — Open the center.
3... cxd4 — Trade a wing pawn for a center pawn.
4. Nxd4 — Recapture with a centralized knight.
4... Nf6 — Develop and attack the e4 pawn.
5. Nc3 — Defend e4 and develop.
5... a6 — The Najdorf move: stop enemy pieces landing on b5 and prepare ...b5.
6. Be3 — Develop the bishop and prepare Qd2 and long castling, the English Attack.
6... e5 — Kick the knight away and take control of d5.
7. Nb3 — Retreat the knight to a safe square.
7... Be6 — Develop the bishop and cover the c4 square.
8. f3 — Support e4 and prepare g4.
8... Be7 — Develop the bishop and prepare to castle.
9. Qd2 — Connect the pieces and prepare to castle long.
9... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
10. O-O-O — Castle long: the king is safe and a rook joins the game.
10... Nbd7 — Develop the last knight.
11. g4 — Start the pawn storm on the kingside.
11... b5 — Grab queenside space and start counterplay.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. g4 b5 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. g5 Nd7