- ECO code
- B92
- Moves
- 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- To move
- Black
- Master games
- 747
- Average game length
- 45 moves
- Years covered
- 1940–2026
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation is the opening filed under ECO code B92, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family and is known as the Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation; in the resulting position it is Black to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 747 games on this line — the 144th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1940 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 254 games. An average game here lasts 45 moves.
White wins 33% of those games, 36% 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 542 games, followed by 6...e6 (178) and 6...g6 (13). After 6...e5 White scores 32% and Black 33%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Nepomniachtchi,I (46 games); on the Black side, Vachier Lagrave,M (50).
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Results in master games
- White 33% (244)
- Draws 36% (271)
- Black 31% (232)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6...e5 | 542 | 32/35/33 | — |
| 6...e6 | 178 | 31/41/28 | — |
| 6...g6 | 13 | 62/23/15 | — |
| 6...Nbd7 | 8 | 25/50/25 | — |
| 6...Nc6 | 3 | 34/33/33 | — |
| 6...Qc7 | 2 | 50/50/0 | — |
| 6...b5 | 1 | 100/0/0 | — |
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
- Nepomniachtchi,I 46
- Karpov, Anatoly 34
- Ivanchuk,V 24
As Black
- Vachier Lagrave,M 50
- Nepomniachtchi,I 38
- Giri,A 31
Games per decade
- 1940s 10
- 1950s 26
- 1960s 32
- 1970s 46
- 1980s 32
- 1990s 61
- 2000s 135
- 2010s 151
- 2020s 254
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepomniachtchi,I | Sonis,Francesco | 1-0 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 29th Jan 2026 |
| Caruana,F | Bok,B | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 20th Jan 2026 |
| Gadzhiev,Ruslan | Caruana,F | 1-0 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 4th Jun 2026 |
| So,W | Sarana,A | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 3rd Feb 2026 |
| Niemann,Hans Moke | Caruana,F | 1-0 | 2026 | GCT Super Rapid Poland |
| Nepomniachtchi,I | Lazavik,Denis | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 17th Feb 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code B92, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation good for White or for Black?
In 747 master games on this line White wins 33%, 36% 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, Opocensky Variation?
6...e5 — played in 542 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation?
On the White side Nepomniachtchi,I (46), Karpov, Anatoly (34), Ivanchuk,V (24); on the Black side Vachier Lagrave,M (50), Nepomniachtchi,I (38), Giri,A (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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