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Najdorf Sicilian

The Najdorf: Black's …a6 Prevents Bb5+ and b5 tricks, launching the most analyzed and most fighting opening in chess.

Profile Details
Moves
the full 5...a6 Najdorf move order
Core idea
counterattack the center from a flexible base
Main trap
the Poisoned Pawn line (…Qxb2) is exactly what it sounds like
Who suits
ambitious fighters with study time
White attacks
English Attack (Be3,f3), 6.Bg5 mainline
Theory load
the highest in chess

About Najdorf Sicilian

The Najdorf is Black's claim that fighting chess is possible against 1.e4 — Fischer and Kasparov made it their weapon. …a6 controls b5 and prepares …e5/…e6 flexibility; the resulting positions are sharp, double-edged, and theoretically bottomless (the Poisoned Pawn Subvariation literally takes White's b2 pawn with the queen). Club players: learn the ideas and the first ten moves; the engine can have move 25.