ChessThe Najdorf Sicilian is 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6. On move five Black doesn't rush to develop. Instead Black nudges the edge pawn one square. It looks slow, but this move keeps the most options open for Black, which is why world champions like Fischer and Kasparov made it their main weapon. To get a feel for it, you can play chess online free against the computer right away.
Moves and position
The first five moves are the Open Sicilian. The difference is Black's fifth move:
1. e4 c5Black's pawn eyes d4 from the side.2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4White opens the center, and Black trades the c-pawn for White's d-pawn.4... Nf6 5. Nc3Black's knight attacks e4, and White's knight defends it.5... a6Black pushes the a-pawn first.
Why spend a move on a6? One of White's favorite squares is b5: a knight on b5 hits d6 and c7, and a bishop on b5 pins Black's knight. a6 shuts that square first, and later Black can push b5 to grab space on the queenside.
What White wants
- Pick an attacking plan: White has lots of choices on move six.
6. Be3,6. Bg5,6. Be2and6. Bc4each lead to a completely different game. - Castle long and storm with pawns: the sharpest setup is f3, Qd2, castle queenside, then push g4 and g5 to chase Black's knight away.
- Eye d5: once Black plays e5, d5 becomes a hole, and White's knights love to jump in there.
What Black wants
- e5 or e6: e5 kicks White's knight off d4 and grabs central space. e6 builds a small wall and waits for White to attack, then hits back.
- Expand with b5: after a6, push b5 and put the bishop on b7 to strike back on the queenside.
- Counterattack on the c-file: like in every Sicilian, a rook goes to the half-open c-file, and Black often gives the exchange on c3 (rook for knight) to wreck White's king cover.
Main lines
English Attack: 6. Be3
This is the most popular try today. White's plan is simple: f3 protects e4, Qd2 connects, castle queenside, then march the kingside pawns up the board. Black doesn't sit still either and pushes b5 and b4 against White's king. In races like this, one slow move loses, which makes it a thrill to play.
Main line and Poisoned Pawn: 6. Bg5
6. Bg5 pins Black's knight and prepares to push f4. Black's 7... Qb6 hits b2, and White simply gives up the pawn. This is the famous Poisoned Pawn Variation. After grabbing it, Black's queen often gets stuck on a3 while White attacks hard. The theory runs very deep and mostly strong players go in for it, so it's enough to know it exists.
Classical: 6. Be2
6. Be2 doesn't go for an immediate attack. White develops and castles, and things are much quieter. Black usually plays e5 to kick the knight, then puts the bishop on e6 to watch d5. It suits players who don't want to memorize a lot and like a slower game.
Fischer's favorite: 6. Bc4
The bishop goes to c4 and aims straight at f7 next to Black's king. Black's most common reply is 6... e6 to block the diagonal, then b5 to chase the bishop. White often has chances to sacrifice a piece on e6 or b5 here, so both sides need to calculate carefully.
A common trap: the e4 pawn that looks free
In the English Attack, once White's knight retreats to b3, the pawn on e4 looks undefended. It's tempting for Black to just grab it:
Black's idea was: losing the knight is fine, because d5 will fork White's knight and win the piece back. But White isn't worried:
Why does this work? Once Black's knight left f6, the diagonal from g5 to d8 opened up, so White's bishop can hit the queen and gain a tempo. Remember this: before you grab a pawn, count whether it's really undefended.
Who it suits
- Black players who want to win: the Najdorf is complex and unbalanced, and it rarely ends in a dull draw.
- Players willing to study: it's one of the most heavily analyzed openings, and the more you study it, the better it gets.
- Players new to the Sicilian: start with calmer positions like
6. Be2, then take on the English Attack.
Together with the Dragon Variation, it's one of the two big main lines of the Open Sicilian. In the Dragon, Black's bishop sits on g7 and the goal is clear. In the Najdorf, Black plays a6 first and keeps more options.
Frequently asked questions
What does a6 actually do in the Najdorf?
Mostly it controls b5. It stops White's knights and bishop from jumping to b5 to cause trouble, and it prepares a later b5 push. The move itself doesn't develop a piece, but it lets Black wait to see White's plan before choosing between e5 and e6.
Is the Najdorf good for beginners?
Yes, but get comfortable with the three opening principles first (take the center, develop quickly, castle early). White's attacks come fast, so start with the quieter 6. Be2 positions and learn the English Attack later.
Does Black have to take on b2 in the Poisoned Pawn?
No. Taking on b2 after 7... Qb6 is the sharpest choice, but the queen can easily get trapped. If you don't want the risk, 7... Be7, developing and castling, is perfectly fine.
Try it yourself
Use the button below to start a game against the computer from the Najdorf position, and see how 6. Be3 and 6. Be2 feel different for White. For the full picture of the Sicilian, go back to the Sicilian Defense. To see other openings, go back to the openings guide. To try a different level, head home and play chess against the computer.
Play this opening against the computer