- ECO code
- B96
- Moves
- 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 498
- Average game length
- 40 moves
- Years covered
- 1954–2026
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation is the opening filed under ECO code B96, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family and is known as the Najdorf Variation; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 498 games on this line — the 212th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1954 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2010s, with 124 games. An average game here lasts 40 moves.
White wins 32% of those games, 34% end in a draw, and Black wins 34%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores better here by 6 percentage points.
From this position the most popular move is 7...Qb6, played in 174 games, followed by 7...Be7 (86) and 7...Nbd7 (73). After 7...Qb6 White scores 34% and Black 25%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Tal, Mihail (23 games); on the Black side, Vachier Lagrave,M (54).
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Results in master games
- White 32% (159)
- Draws 34% (171)
- Black 34% (168)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7...Qb6 | 174 | 34/41/25 | — |
| 7...Be7 | 86 | 36/28/36 | — |
| 7...Nbd7 | 73 | 35/32/33 | — |
| 7...h6 | 68 | 29/29/42 | — |
| 7...Qc7 | 67 | 19/36/45 | — |
| 7...b5 | 13 | 15/38/47 | — |
| 7...Nc6 | 10 | 40/30/30 | — |
| 7...Bd7 | 7 | 57/0/43 | — |
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
- Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 · 595 games
Played most often by
As White
- Tal, Mihail 23
- Shirov,A 18
- Keres, Paul 16
As Black
- Vachier Lagrave,M 54
- Nepomniachtchi,I 34
- Fischer, Robert James 31
Games per decade
- 1950s 48
- 1960s 36
- 1970s 29
- 1980s 21
- 1990s 22
- 2000s 108
- 2010s 124
- 2020s 110
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 |
| Duda,J | Caruana,F | 0-1 | 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Poland |
| Firouzja,Alireza | Abdusattorov,Nodirbek | 0-1 | 2026 | FIDE World Bl Team Final |
| Zhauynbay Aldiyar | Nepomniachtchi,I | 0-1 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 5th Feb 2026 |
| Nagare Kaivalya Sandip | Nepomniachtchi,I | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 6th Jan 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code B96, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation good for White or for Black?
In 498 master games on this line White wins 32%, 34% are drawn and Black wins 34%. 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...Qb6 — played in 174 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation?
On the White side Tal, Mihail (23), Shirov,A (18), Keres, Paul (16); on the Black side Vachier Lagrave,M (54), Nepomniachtchi,I (34), Fischer, Robert James (31).
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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