Openings 1.e4 c5: the Sicilian
Sicilian Najdorf: Main Lines, Plans and Stats by Rating
5...a6 is a small move with a big idea: it keeps White’s pieces off b5 and prepares ...e5 or ...e6 and ...b5. Fischer and Kasparov played it all their lives; it is the most respected answer in the Open Sicilian.
B90Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation
Games from this position (1600–1999): 20k
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | 4,042 | ||
| 20% | 3,958 | ||
| 14% | 2,806 | ||
| 12% | 2,399 | ||
| 12% | 2,390 | ||
| 8% | 1,683 | ||
| 4% | 816 | ||
| 3% | 547 | ||
| 2% | 312 | ||
| 1% | 283 | ||
| 1.0% | 191 | ||
| 0.8% | 157 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 6.Be3 with f3, Qd2 and O-O-O (English Attack) is the modern main line.
- 6.Bg5 is the sharpest; 6.Be2 and 6.h3 are calmer.
- 6.Bc4 aims at e6 and f7; Black meets it with ...e6 and ...b5.
Black
- Choose your structure: ...e5 (gaining space, d5 is the weak square) or ...e6 (Scheveningen-style).
- Queenside play with ...b5–b4 is your main counterattack.
- Do not castle into a pawn storm without counterplay ready.
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Sicilian Najdorf at each rating
How often the position after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 341<0.1% | 6.Bg524% | |
| 1200–1599 | 4,152<0.1% | 6.Bg525% | |
| 1600–1999 | 20k0.3% | 6.Bg520% | |
| 2000+ | 22k1.1% | 6.Bg525% | |
| All | 47k0.3% | 6.Bg523% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
White castles long and storms with g4–g5. Black plays ...Be6, ...Nbd7 and ...b5.
2,389 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 43%, 14% were drawn, Black won 43%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3The old main line, full of sharp lines such as the Poisoned Pawn (7...Qb6).
3,840 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 6% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4A positional line. Black plays ...e5 and fights for d5.
964 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 9% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7The bishop aims at e6. Black blunts it with ...e6 and chases it with ...b5.
272 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 47%, 6% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5Black grabs b2 and the queen runs to a3. It is sharp and deeply analyzed, and almost every game here that reaches it is at 2000+.
121 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 47%, 14% were drawn, Black won 39%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3
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At club level
The Najdorf is less common below 2000 than its reputation suggests, because White often avoids the Open Sicilian. When you do get it, 6.Bg5 is White’s most common choice at every rating level here, with 6.Be3, 6.Bc4 and 6.Bd3 next. Learn the plans against 6.Bg5, 6.Be3 and 6.Bc4 first.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- Sicilian Defense
1.e4 c5
- Closed Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3
- Alapin Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.c3
- Smith-Morra Gambit
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3
- Rossolimo Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
- Sicilian Taimanov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6