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This chess information is designed for chess beginners to learn the Najdorf variation of the Sicilian Defense. On this page, you will find interesting information and official data on the Najdorf variation, and see chess video on the Najdorf. Special PGN files on this variation will be provided later on a separate page.
The Najdorf variation is number one variation of the Sicilian Defense. This variation of the Sicilian is very popular at the chess master level and at the top level of chess. It was very popular among many World Chess Champions including Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov. Why it is called the Najdorf variation?
It is named after the Polish-Argentinian Grandmaster Miguel Najdorf (born Mieczyslaw Najdorf, 1910-1997) who contributed a lot to the variation. The Najdorf variation is one of the sharpest variations of the Sicilian Defense and may be not easy to learn because of many decent lines of play.
Najdorf Variation: Official Data
Variation Name: The Najdorf variation of the Sicilian Defense
Moves: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6
ECO Codes: B90-B99
By popularity, White has 3 most common answers (6.Be3, 6.Bg5, Be2) and 4 less common moves (6.Bc4, 6.f4, 6.g3, 6.h3). The White answer 6.Be3 is officially named the Byrne (English) Attack, the 6.Bg5 answer is unofficially called the Main Line, and 6.Bc4 is the Fischer-Sozin Attack.
Sicilian Najdor Variation: Video
To understand in a visible way the Najdorf variation of the Sicilian Defense, to get a general picture and presentation of this variation, and to study the most common playing lines of the Najdorf, you are recommended to see the following video. The video runs for 4 min 32 sec. To start the video, click the Play button below:
• If the opening video hasn’t shown up, please wait a little.
• If the video stops, drag a little right the player’s handle.
• If the video displays an error, try to start and play it later.
• Download There Najdorf Variation PGN File
• Return to the Main Page of Sicilian Defense
Note. To see one video must be not enough to learn it. Because the Najdorf variation of the Sicilian Defense is large, there on a separate page was published a special PGN file to learn this variation. You can find and download the Najdorf PGN file by clicking one of 2 links placed above. Thank you!
