- ECO code
- B90
- Moves
- 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 1,297
- Average game length
- 44 moves
- Years covered
- 1966–2026
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English 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.Be3. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family and is known as the Najdorf Variation, English Attack; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 1,297 games on this line — the 91st most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1966 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2000s, with 440 games. An average game here lasts 44 moves.
White wins 40% of those games, 32% end in a draw, and Black wins 28%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%).
From this position the most popular move is 6...e5, played in 717 games, followed by 6...e6 (291) and 6...Ng4 (261). After 6...e5 White scores 41% and Black 27%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Shirov,A (126 games); on the Black side, Vachier Lagrave,M (93).
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Results in master games
- White 40% (508)
- Draws 32% (420)
- Black 28% (369)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6...e5 | 717 | 41/32/27 | — |
| 6...e6 | 291 | 39/29/32 | — |
| 6...Ng4 | 261 | 35/37/28 | — |
| 6...Nc6 | 12 | 58/42/0 | — |
| 6...Nbd7 | 10 | 20/30/50 | — |
| 6...g6 | 3 | 67/33/0 | — |
| 6...b5 | 2 | 0/50/50 | — |
| 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 126
- Karjakin,Sergey 57
- Shirov, Alexei 56
As Black
- Vachier Lagrave,M 93
- Nepomniachtchi,I 76
- Topalov,V 51
Games per decade
- 1960s 1
- 1970s 7
- 1980s 14
- 1990s 158
- 2000s 440
- 2010s 347
- 2020s 330
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kleimenov,Nikolay | Nepomniachtchi,I | 0-1 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 1st Jan 2026 |
| Vachier Lagrave,M | Firouzja,Alireza | 1-0 | 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Croatia |
| Vachier Lagrave,M | Van Foreest,Jorden | 1-0 | 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Croatia |
| Mischuk,D | Caruana,F | 0-1 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 4th Jun 2026 |
| Sevian,Samuel | Nepomniachtchi,I | 1-0 | 2026 | Titled Tue 10th Feb 2026 |
| Van Foreest,Jorden | Giri,A | 1-0 | 2026 | 88th Tata Steel Masters |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English 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.Be3. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack good for White or for Black?
In 1,297 master games on this line White wins 40%, 32% are drawn and Black wins 28%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack?
6...e5 — played in 717 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack?
On the White side Shirov,A (126), Karjakin,Sergey (57), Shirov, Alexei (56); on the Black side Vachier Lagrave,M (93), Nepomniachtchi,I (76), Topalov,V (51).
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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