- ECO code
- B95
- Moves
- 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 595
- Average game length
- 41 moves
- Years covered
- 1952–2026
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation is the opening filed under ECO code B95, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family and is known as the Najdorf Variation; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 595 games on this line — the 185th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1952 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 154 games. An average game here lasts 41 moves.
White wins 33% of those games, 32% end in a draw, and Black wins 35%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores better here by 7 percentage points.
From this position the most popular move is 7.f4, played in 498 games, followed by 7.Qf3 (54) and 7.Qd2 (13). 7.f4 leads into Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation (B96). After 7.f4 White scores 32% and Black 34%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Tal, Mihail (26 games); on the Black side, Vachier Lagrave,M (60).
1 named variation branch off this position and have their own page here, among them Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation (B96).
Reading about an opening is not the same as knowing it. Play this line against the Katuranga bot, then let the engine mark your brilliant moves, mistakes and blunders in Analysis — the fastest way to find out which of these moves you actually understand.
Results in master games
- White 33% (194)
- Draws 32% (193)
- Black 35% (208)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.f4 | 498 | 32/34/34 | Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation (B96) |
| 7.Qf3 | 54 | 44/26/30 | — |
| 7.Qd2 | 13 | 31/8/61 | — |
| 7.f3 | 9 | 33/45/22 | — |
| 7.Qe2 | 9 | 22/11/67 | — |
| 7.Be2 | 5 | 40/20/40 | — |
| 7.Qd3 | 3 | 0/33/67 | — |
| 7.g3 | 2 | 0/0/100 | — |
Variations from this position
- Najdorf Variation (B96) · 7.f4 · 498 games
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
- Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 · 770 games
Played most often by
As White
- Tal, Mihail 26
- Firouzja,Alireza 19
- Shirov,A 18
As Black
- Vachier Lagrave,M 60
- Nepomniachtchi,I 39
- Fischer, Robert James 35
Games per decade
- 1950s 68
- 1960s 41
- 1970s 31
- 1980s 21
- 1990s 25
- 2000s 121
- 2010s 134
- 2020s 154
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davudov,Tunar | Nepomniachtchi,I | 0-1 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 5th Feb 2026 |
| Csonka,B | Nepomniachtchi,I | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 14th Apr 2026 |
| Movahed,Sina | So,W | 0-1 | 2026 | Chess.com Open PlayIn1 |
| Duda,J | Caruana,F | 0-1 | 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Poland |
| Parpiev,Isaak | Carlsen,M | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 22nd Jan 2026 |
| Movahed,Sina | Grischuk,A | 0-1 | 2026 | 3rd 3-0 Thu 5th Feb 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code B95, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation good for White or for Black?
In 595 master games on this line White wins 33%, 32% are drawn and Black wins 35%. 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?
7.f4 — played in 498 of the master games on this line, which leads into Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation (B96).
Which grandmasters play the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation?
On the White side Tal, Mihail (26), Firouzja,Alireza (19), Shirov,A (18); on the Black side Vachier Lagrave,M (60), Nepomniachtchi,I (39), Fischer, Robert James (35).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
Try this line on the board
Play this opening against the Katuranga bot, then review the game — the engine marks every brilliant move, mistake and blunder.