Sicilian Najdorf: English Attack: main line, ideas and how to practise it
Against 1.e4 as Black. A main line to learn move by move, with the idea behind each key move.
The main line
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
You play Black. In the analyzer's drill the other side's moves are played for you and Stockfish checks each of yours.
Practise it with free drillsAnalyze one of your own games
The ideas behind the moves
- 1... c5: The Sicilian: an unbalanced fight for d4 from the flank.
- 3... cxd4: Trade a flank pawn for White's centre pawn: the point of the Sicilian.
- 5... a6: The Najdorf move: controls b5 and prepares ...e5 and ...b5.
- 6... e5: Kicks the knight away and grabs space; d5 becomes the key square.
- 7... Be6: The bishop fights for d5.
- 11... b5: Castled on opposite sides, both players race their pawns at the enemy king.
Legends who played it
The Najdorf is a line of the Sicilian Defense, so these are the legends' Sicilian games.
- Magnus Carlsen: 628 games in the Sicilian Defense, 64% score
- Mikhail Tal: 576 games in the Sicilian Defense, 69% score
- Garry Kasparov: 373 games in the Sicilian Defense, 66% score
- Bobby Fischer: 250 games in the Sicilian Defense, 76% score
- Anatoly Karpov: 246 games in the Sicilian Defense, 70% score
- Tigran Petrosian: 179 games in the Sicilian Defense, 65% score
- Alexander Alekhine: 97 games in the Sicilian Defense, 70% score
- Emanuel Lasker: 62 games in the Sicilian Defense, 73% score
More openings to learn
- Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo
1.e4 e5 for White - Ruy Lopez: Closed
1.e4 e5 for White - Scotch Game
1.e4 e5 for White - Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox
1.d4 for White - London System
1.d4 for White - Caro-Kann: Classical
Against 1.e4 as Black - French Defence: Advance
Against 1.e4 as Black - Scandinavian Defence
Against 1.e4 as Black - King's Indian: Classical
Against 1.d4 as Black - Queen's Gambit Declined: Tartakower
Against 1.d4 as Black