ECO B90 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation

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

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

6. Be3+0.43

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation (B90), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Be3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.43).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.436. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. f3 Be6 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7
  2. +0.406. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 8. Bc4 Qc7 9. Bb3 b5 10. f5 e5
  3. +0.366. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3 Be6 9. O-O O-O 10. Nd5 Nxd5

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5
  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6
  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4
  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Be3 for White, continuing e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. f3 Be6 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7. White is slightly better (+0.43). The next best moves are 6. Bg5 (+0.40) and 6. Be2 (+0.36).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.43: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation?
B90. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).