1.e4 — the open games
Najdorf Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6ECO B90–B99
The most celebrated Sicilian and one of the most analysed openings in chess. The modest …a6 controls b5 and keeps every option open before Black commits — the choice of world champions from Fischer to Kasparov.
Key ideas
- …a6 takes b5 away from White's pieces and prepares …e5 or …e6 with …b5 expansion.
- White's sharpest tries are the English Attack (Be3, f3, Qd2, O-O-O, g4) and 6.Bg5.
- It's a fight for the d5-square and the initiative — rich, double-edged, and endlessly deep.
Who it suits
Ambitious players willing to learn theory for the most combative answer to 1.e4.
Add it to your repertoire.
Drill the Najdorf Sicilian move by move against the board until it's second nature.
Open the trainer