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  3. /Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Accepted (B97)
B97

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Accepted

Key moves: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6

The Najdorf Variation is perhaps the most theoretically important chess opening. The move 6...a6 is a multi-purpose prophylactic move that controls b5, prepares ...e5, and keeps maximum flexibility. It leads to extraordinarily complex positions.

History & Notable Players

Named after Miguel Najdorf, it became the ultimate weapon through Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov, arguably the two greatest players in chess history, both of whom made it their main opening.

Top Players in this Opening

Timman, Jan H18 gamesNepomniachtchi,I17 gamesPortisch, Lajos17 gamesGrischuk,A16 gamesLjubojevic, Ljubomir16 gamesKarjakin,Sergey14 gamesGiri,A13 gamesDuda,J13 gamesFischer, Robert James12 gamesTal, Mihail12 games

Related Openings

B90 - Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation3225B91 - Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Zagreb Variation280B92 - Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation852B93 - Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Amsterdam Variation252B94 - Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation273B95 - Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation119B96 - Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation330B98 - Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation33B99 - Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Main Line143

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