chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Sicilian, Najdorf (B94)
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bg5

Number of games in database: 2427
Years covered: 1939 to 2025
Overall record:
   White wins 35.4%
   Black wins 37.8%
   Draws 26.7%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Jonny Hector  13 games
Sergei Azarov  11 games
Mikhail Tal  11 games
Anton Korobov  29 games
Alexey Sarana  18 games
Pouya Idani  16 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
Spassky vs Petrosian, 1969
Tal vs Polugaevsky, 1959
A Volokitin vs Mamedyarov, 2012
A Nikitin vs Tal, 1959
R Nezhmetdinov vs Petrosian, 1954
Naiditsch vs A Korobov, 2010
<< previous chapter next chapter >>

 page 1 of 98; games 1-25 of 2,427  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. P Schmidt vs R Arlauskas  ½-½3219393rd SELL Baltic Student OlympiadB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
2. A Konstantinopolsky vs E Gerstenfeld  1-0441940Lvov corrB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
3. J Foltys vs K Opocensky  1-0431949Schlechter MemorialB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
4. D Ackerman vs R Pohle  1-035194950th US OpenB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
5. N Bergkvist vs Pilnik 0-1421950Dubrovnik OlympiadB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
6. L Bauza vs H Rossetto  0-1481951Mar del Plata ZonalB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
7. W Pietzsch vs R Schlieder  1-0451951East German ChampionshipB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
8. V Lyublinsky vs Kotov  0-1401952Moscow ChampionshipB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
9. Tal vs A Darznieks 1-0301953Riga ChampionshipB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
10. V Strekalovski vs V Byvshev  1-0421953URS-ch sf LeningradB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
11. N Krogius vs G Borisenko 1-02019533rd Soviet Team Championship FinalB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
12. J Klavins vs Y Kots  1-02819533rd Soviet Team Championship FinalB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
13. A Roizman vs Y Kogan  1-01719533rd Soviet Team Championship FinalB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
14. S Brzozka vs S Kwapisz  1-0321953Polish ChampionshipB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
15. Shamkovich vs E Kuzminykh  1-0501954URS-ch sf LeningradB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
16. L Schmid vs E Adam  1-0171954Dyckhoff mem-A corr5456B94 Sicilian, Najdorf
17. A Bannik vs B Lebedev  1-0501954URS-ch sf YerevanB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
18. V Byvshev vs Tolush 0-1361954Leningrad ChampionshipB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
19. A I Konstantinov vs V Zurakhov  0-1341954Russian ChampionshipB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
20. A Usov vs L Aronson  1-0201954Leningrad ChampionshipB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
21. V Byvshev vs D Rovner 1-0161954Leningrad ChampionshipB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
22. V Soloviev vs V Zagorovsky  1-0401954Moscow ChampionshipB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
23. R Nezhmetdinov vs Petrosian 0-1441954USSR ChampionshipB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
24. V Byvshev vs Furman  1-0421954USSR ChampionshipB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
25. A Nikitin vs N Padevsky  1-0331954World Student Team ChampionshipB94 Sicilian, Najdorf
 page 1 of 98; games 1-25 of 2,427  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
Dec-03-04  Backward Development: no notable games for such a theoretical line as this?? i would recommend spassky-fischer, a good polugaevsky line, and of course a kasparov win.
Dec-04-04  Backward Development: CG.com...
Never mind, i just explored some more and came to the conclusion that this code is for lines in which black avoids the main lines... sorry for the 'slander'.
regards.
Dec-04-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  chessgames.com: Right, most of the notables are found here Sicilian, Najdorf (B96). In any case, we have no control over what is "notable", it's determined simply by the number of appearances in game collections.
Dec-04-04  Backward Development: gotcha. wow, do you guys have a 'rapid response team'? i just wrote my last post about...a minute and a half ago! pretty impressive...
Oct-01-06  hicetnunc: Does anybody know a refutation of 6.Bg5 e5?!
Dec-06-06  notyetagm: From GM Danny King's Najdorf update at http://www.chesspublishing.com/cont...:

<Game 6, Mueller-Kasimdzhanov features a system that is growing in popularity:


click for larger view

I know that Tony has discussed this before, but I'm bringing you up-to-date with the latest games and giving my own views. I find this system attractive, not least because of an important practical consideration: it comes fairly soon in the game so there is less chance of White deviating and avoiding it. Moreover, in securing the e5 square for the knight, the idea has a sound positional basis.>

[Event "Mainz Ordix open"]
[Site ""]
[Date "2006.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Müller, Matthias"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2401"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[NIC "SI 6.2"]
[ECO "B94"]
[PlyCount "60"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. f4 e6 8. Qf3 h6 9. Bh4 e5 10. Nf5 exf4 11. O-O-O g5 12. Bf2 Ne5 13. Qe2 Bxf5 14. exf5 Bg7 15. h4 Qe7 16. hxg5 hxg5 17. Rxh8+ Bxh8 18. Qd2 O-O-O 19. Bb6 Re8 20. Qxd6 Qxd6 21. Rxd6 Ned7 22. Bg1 Ng4 23. Rd1 Bxc3 24. bxc3 Ne3 25. Bxe3 Rxe3 26. Kd2 Nc5 27. Bc4 f6 28. Rh1 Re5 29. Rh7 Rxf5 30. Rf7 f3 0-1

Apr-17-08  sentriclecub: Can someone explain further the pros/cons beyond what this amateur sees.

<> of 6...e6
P-is the most popular reply
P-adds better coverage to the center
P-very flexible
C-pins the knight
C-black has 1 piece developed to white's 3
C-Qa5 can lead to doubled f-pawns after Bxf6

<> 6...Nbd7
P-develops a piece
P-knight can attack e5 twice when white plays f4
P-Qa5 works good to scare white and unbook him
C-blocks in the light square bishop
C-slower to castle by one tempo

Apr-17-08  KingG: <sentriclecub> Counting against 6...Nbd7 is also the fact that it might be a bit premature to commit the knight to d7. That is not only because you might want to put it on c6, but also because you weaken the e6 square by blocking in the bishop. This could leave you vulnerable to sacrifices on e6, since 7.Bc4 is the most popular reply to 6...Nbd7. By the way, this may also be the reason that 6...e6 is more popular: White finds it more difficult to place both his bishops on their ideal attacking squares c4 and g5. Of course, there is nothing preventing 6...e6 7.Bc4, but Black then finds it easier to equalise then after 6...Nbd7 7.Bc4.

In any case, I don't think generalities help that much in these positions. 6...e6 is more popular simply because analysis and practice indicates that it's a better move. Even Petrosian played 6...Nbd7, so I don't think there is anything obviously wrong about it. However, I must say that in sharp positions I like to have the option of castling as quickly as possible, even if I don't end up using it.

Apr-18-08  sentriclecub: Thanks KingG, what a fast reply. I think I'll go with 6...e6 next time I face Bg5 on FICS.org

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific opening only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC