[Event "The Sicilian Najdorf Variation - popular GM Opening: Introduction"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/YcFtDNCn/ThPAtzr7"] [Result "*"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B90"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/francesco_super"] [StudyName "The Sicilian Najdorf Variation - popular GM Opening"] [ChapterName "Introduction"] [UTCDate "2017.08.20"] [UTCTime "11:46:50"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/YcFtDNCn/ThPAtzr7"] [Orientation "black"] { The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defense is one of the most respected and popular openings and it is played by most grandmasters at top level play, including the legendary Garry Kasparov. He also played it in the St Louis Rapid & Blitz. He drew against Nepomniatchi and David Navara and won against Lenier Dominguez. } 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 { In this position blacks have two choices: either g6 going for the Dragon or a6, which is the Najdorf Variation (the most common) } { [%csl Gg6,Ga6][%cal Gg7g6,Ga7a6] } 5... a6 { a6 is a crucial move: it prevents the knights and the light-squared bishop to make the disturbing move b5 later on in the game and also allows b5 } { [%csl Rb5][%cal Rd4b5,Rc3b5,Rf1b5,Ba6b5] } *