Gisbert Jacoby is the author.

The author has compiled some instructive games in the line...

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3

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I once uncorked an OTB novelty in this line only to get confused myself. I once again messed up just before entering the middlegame and lost. The whole tourney was a total nightmare.

As promised I publish what I find in Sam Collins's Understanding the Chess Openings (Gambit 2005). Of course it can't be as detailed as TheAlchemist's book, but it's very "verbose" and therefore useful to understand ideas. _____________________________

This is the English Attack - popularized by English GMs Nunn, Short and Chandler as a good alternative to theory, it has since skyrocketed in popularity and now represents one of the best studied lines in the Sicilian.

<<6...e5>>

This is one of Black's best responses.
There are only a few situations in the Najdorf where 6...e5 isn't a good idea, and these generally occur when White has tried to seize control over d5 (with 6 Bc4 or 6 Bg5, for instance). 6.Be3 does nothing to control d5 and so the move is safe. However, there are alternatives.

<6...Ng4!?> (D) was popularized by Garry Kasparov, and is well suited to his dynamic style.

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Black hits the bishop and tries to tempt it to the kingside, where it will be chased by the black pawns with unclear consequences. After 7 Bg5 (7 Bc1 has been tried a few times - it actually isn't so bad, since White can gain time on the knight with 8 f3 or 8 Be2, though of course after 7...Nf6 White has to play something else or allow a repetition) 7...h6 8 Bh4 g5 9 Bg3 Bg7 Black has a very active position, and seems to be doing OK. Some sample lines: 10 Be2 (10 Qd2 Nc6 1l Nb3 Nge5 12 f3 b5 13 Bf2 Rb8 14 Nd4 b4 15 Ndl Nxd4 16 Bxd4 d5 17 exd5 Qxd5 leaves Black well placed; 10 h3 Ne5 11 f3 Nbc6 12 Bf2 Be6 13 Qd2 Nxd4 14 Bxd4 Qa5 15 a3 Rg8 16 h4 Rc8 17 hxg5 hxg5 18 0-0-0 is balanced) 10...h5 11 Bxg4 hxg4 12 0-0 Nc6 13 Nf5 Bxc3 14 bxc3 Qa5 15 Qxg4 f6 16 Rab1 Qxc3 17 Rfd1 Ne5 18 Bxe5 Qxe5 19 g3 b5 20 c4! gives White just enough compensation.

<6...e6 7 g4> introduces huge complications in a line called the Perenyi Attack: 7...e5 8 Nf5 g6 9 g5 gxf5 10 exf5! (this is the whole idea - Black has nothing to worry about after 10 gxf6, which sucks all of the quality from the white position) 10...d5 (retreating the knight leaves White with a huge initiative) 11 Qf3!? with an entirely unclear position.

<6...e6 7 f3> b5 (Black can also exchange a pair of knights first: 7...Nc6 8 g4 Be7 9 Qd2 0-0 10 0-0-0 Nxd4 and 11...b5) 8 g4 h6 9 Qd2 Bb7 10 0-0-0 Nbd7 11 h4 b4 is a more conventional English Attack with big complications; for instance, 12 Na4 Qa5 13 b3 Nc5 14 a3! Nxa4 15 axb4 Qc7 16 bxa4 d5 when Black has some compensation for his pawn.

<<7 Nb3>>

The knight is badly placed here, but White wants to leave the f3-square free for a pawn so that he can launch a kingside attack. 7 Nf3 Be7 8 Bc4 0-0 9 0-0 Be6! leaves Black with good control over d5.

<<7...Be6>>

While the position of this bishop is often open to dispute - e6 and b7 are both excellent squares - in these positions e6 is the right choice, since on b7 the bishop would block Black's queenside play while staring at a solidly-guarded e4-pawn.

<<8 f3 Nbd7 >>

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2005 games:
Morozevich vs Judit Polgar, 2005
Svidler vs Judit Polgar, 2005
Svidler vs Topalov, 2005
Kasimdzhanov vs Anand, 2005

2006 games:
Leko vs Morozevich, 2006
Svidler vs Grischuk, 2006

I am against e6 because it allows the Perenyi attack. Ng4 is ok, I guess, if the majority wants to play it. The problem are all the light square weaknesses and giving up the bishop pair after Nf5 Bxf5 in the current main line, if I remember correctly. I am still in favor of e5, but won't mind Ng4, but I am currently against e6, although Topalov plays it successfully, I think.

I really, really like 6...Ng4 as well. <Anand> as White played 7.Bc1 and went on to win a Rapid game with <Grishuk>, but I bet they don't play Bc1. I bet they play 7.Bg5.

Then, after we drive back the Bishop, we have advanced pawns against White kingside, and a great spot for our Bishop on g7-- I think the <Svidler-Topalov 2005> game is very auspicious for our chances, since Topalov creamed him, and made absolutely excellent use of the g7 bishop in doing it...

Also, having gone through the games <Marco> posted above, we're also out of theory quite quickly after 6...Ng4.

Please go through the <Marco> games very carefully and note the wild and multivariant tactical free-for-alls that result very quickly after 6...Ng4. This is what we want, no?

A chance to win with Black or go down fighting.

So my vote is <6...Ng4>.

I will continue to look at these <anti-English games> until someone orders me to do otherwise LOL.

Let us press on and if their move was late, we just gently remind them?

I am not crazy about either of the two main lines that we seem to be considering at this point. e6 is solid I understand but I don't like the backward d-pawn anf Ng4 is just too radical for my taste.

Thanks to an unknown/anonymous/mysterious benefactor!!! I could think of a few "suspects", but will need to do some investigative work first. Afterall, it'd be pretty hard to repay the favour, if I don't know who I'm indebted to. Should You waant to come forward, please do so: <brankokatic15@yahoo.ca>

Your help is very sincerely appreciated.

As for the Consultation game, it can now proceed without any further interruptions. Thank You all so much.

It does appear Your opponents were 1 hour late with their last move. I don't really expect <THE TEAM> to make any kind of a big deal of it. Probably a mistake. Or possibly, which is whaaat I suspect, still a case of some misundersanding of posting "rules", which, of course are still posted in my forum, and, which I've tried to "explain" a number of times.

By the end of the game, I have no doubt, they will all finally sink in :-)

<Kasparov> and <Topalov> have played this move with sometimes stunning effect--

It will bother the other team. Plus, as I said, we get into unfamiliar terrain with excellent winning chances.

<TTLump> AND <Zebra> favors 6...g6

<hitman84> favors 6...e5 (I think)

<Cap. TheAlchemist> torn btwn. 6...e5 and 6...Ng4

<Swapmeet> AND <dakky> AND <Rocafella> has been reported missing by the police.

Once more- please teammates, when you have the time, go through the new material (especially the games) provided by <Marco>... And also the material/analysis provided by <Hitman>...

Remember when I predicted they would not play Bg5, the move I was preparing for? Scroll back if you like, but I said they would put the Bishop on e3, which is right where they put it.

Anand vs Kasparov, 1996

Shirov vs Kasparov, 1999

Please go through them last three Ng4 games <Wilson> posted... perhaps you might join us in a grand adventure?

I also have to be realistic and consider that even though I have had some personal success with the <Dragon-Yugoslav attack>, it is much more likely that this opponent will be able to take better advantages if it's weaknesses and since it is nearing that time that we must make a decision, I will switch my vote to Ng4.

They won't know what hit them!!