- ECO code
- B90
- Moves
- 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 455
- Average game length
- 43 moves
- Years covered
- 1958–2026
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Adams Attack is the opening filed under ECO code B90, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family and is known as the Najdorf Variation, Adams Attack; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 455 games on this line — the 227th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1958 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2010s, with 234 games. An average game here lasts 43 moves.
White wins 36% of those games, 33% end in a draw, and Black wins 31%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores better here by 3 percentage points.
From this position the most popular move is 6...e5, played in 246 games, followed by 6...e6 (150) and 6...g6 (29). After 6...e5 White scores 35% and Black 32%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Shirov,A (62 games); on the Black side, Vachier Lagrave,M (45).
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Results in master games
- White 36% (165)
- Draws 33% (150)
- Black 31% (140)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6...e5 | 246 | 35/33/32 | — |
| 6...e6 | 150 | 33/34/33 | — |
| 6...g6 | 29 | 41/31/28 | — |
| 6...Nc6 | 24 | 58/25/17 | — |
| 6...b5 | 4 | 75/25/0 | — |
| 6...h6 | 1 | 0/100/0 | — |
| 6...Qc7 | 1 | 0/0/100 | — |
How the position is reached
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 · 62,859 games
- Sicilian Defense · 1.e4 c5 · 21,789 games
- Sicilian Defense · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 · 18,942 games
- Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 · 9,282 games
- Sicilian Defense · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 · 6,995 games
- Sicilian Defense · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 · 6,811 games
- Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · 6,441 games
- Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 · 4,731 games
Played most often by
As White
- Shirov,A 62
- Anand,V 31
- Nepomniachtchi,I 23
As Black
- Vachier Lagrave,M 45
- Nepomniachtchi,I 37
- Grischuk,A 35
Games per decade
- 1950s 1
- 1960s 7
- 1980s 1
- 1990s 2
- 2000s 22
- 2010s 234
- 2020s 188
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vachier Lagrave,M | Caruana,F | 0-1 | 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Poland |
| Dyachuk,Artem | Grischuk,A | 0-1 | 2026 | 2nd 3-0 Thu 5th Feb 2026 |
| Henriquez Villagra,C | Grischuk,A | 0-1 | 2026 | Chess.com Open PlayIn1 |
| Bharath,Subramaniyam H | Caruana,F | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 21st Apr 2026 |
| Vachier Lagrave,M | Firouzja,Alireza | 0-1 | 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Poland |
| Glaves,Raheem | Nepomniachtchi,I | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 6th Jan 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Adams Attack?
It is the opening with ECO code B90, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Adams Attack good for White or for Black?
In 455 master games on this line White wins 36%, 33% are drawn and Black wins 31%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is a slightly better bargain for Black than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Adams Attack?
6...e5 — played in 246 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Adams Attack?
On the White side Shirov,A (62), Anand,V (31), Nepomniachtchi,I (23); on the Black side Vachier Lagrave,M (45), Nepomniachtchi,I (37), Grischuk,A (35).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
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