The Najdorf, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6, is the sharpest and most respected way to fight for a win with Black. The little move ...a6 stops Nb5 and Bb5+, prepares ...e5 or ...e6 and later ...b5. Black accepts a slightly loose position in return for dynamic counterplay on the queen side.
Key ideas
1...a6 controls b5 so that ...e5 can be played without allowing Nb5 or Bb5+.
2The typical structure ...e5 with a backward d6 pawn is fine as long as d5 is controlled (...Be6, ...Nbd7).
3Queen-side counterplay with ...b5, ...Bb7 and ...Rc8 is the main plan; the c-file belongs to Black.
4Against 6.Bg5 play ...e6 and ...Be7; against 6.Be3 and 6.Be2 play ...e5.
5Keep the king flexible; sometimes it stays in the centre while the attack unfolds.
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The Najdorf is what you play with Black when a draw is not the goal. Five moves in, the position is already unbalanced: White has a knight in the centre and more space, Black has the half-open c-file and a pawn on a6 that looks like nothing and decides everything. The four lines here are sorted by White's sixth move.
What you will learn
01Choose between ...e5 and ...e6 on move six by looking at where White's bishop went.
02Build the ...e5 structure with ...Be6 and ...Nbd7 so the hole on d5 is never free for a White knight.
03Start the queen-side play with ...b5, ...Bb7 and ...Rc8.
The main line
The English Attack line runs 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6. After four developing moves Black spends a tempo on 5...a6. The pawn takes b5 away from both White knights and the bishop, so ...e5 can be played without 6.Nb5 or Bb5+ wrecking the position.
After 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Black puts the bishop on e6 to guard d5, the square the whole structure is built around. The pawn on d6 is backward and stays that way; it is acceptable as long as d5 is covered. Black's plan is ...Be7, ...Nbd7 and ...b5, and the king often waits before castling.
The mistake that costs Najdorf players most is playing ...e5 against 6.Bg5. The bishop then takes on f6 and the d5 hole is lost for good; against Bg5 the move is ...e6. The second is castling early out of habit and walking into g4 and h4.
How to practise it
Learn the English Attack line first and watch what ...a6 and ...Be6 are each guarding. In Drill you play Black, so White’s move appears and yours is marked against the line. Take 6.Bg5 next because its sixth move needs the other answer, then 6.Be2 and 6.Bc4 on their review dates.
It is the hardest defence on this page. The ideas are learnable, but White has four good sixth moves and each wants a different Black reply. The Scandinavian or Caro-Kann is an easier start.
What is the main line of the Najdorf?
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6, after which 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 is the English Attack. 6.Bg5, 6.Be2 and 6.Bc4 are the alternatives on this page.