I've tried the Najdorf close to two dozen times and I've always had trouble with 6. Bc4 and to a lesser extent, 6. Bg5. It seems like Black's position is about to fail any second and White is not in any immediate danger. I know, these variations are deemed perfectly fine for Black, but I've really struggled with them. What variations annoy you the most when playing the Black side of the Najdorf?
BTW: I'm still playing the French and having some fun with it. And I even tried my old Accelerated Dragon sometimes. I've solved my main problem in the main line, but the Maroczy bind is just super annoying. I'm confident that Black can get a draw with best play, but most of the time it seems like he has no chance for a win. I've actually played the White side of the bind and felt perfectly safe and won in the endgame. Not good to give White such a safe game with all the initiative and a stable advantage. 🙁
Originally posted by exigentskyWith Bg5 it's all about the Poisoned Pawn.
I've tried the Najdorf close to two dozen times and I've always had trouble with 6. Bc4 and to a lesser extent, 6. Bg5. It seems like Black's position is about to fail any second and White is not in any immediate danger. I know, these variations are deemed perfectly fine for Black, but I've really struggled with them. What variations annoy you the most wh ...[text shortened]... t good to give White such a safe game with all the initiative and a stable advantage. 🙁
Unless you're talking about OTB games then the lines with Bg5 aren't really that dangerous. White's plan is to hack his way to your king so there's no real positional sublety. I find the Be2/Be3 lines harder. With Bc4 you have to avoid a sacrifice on e6 and if you do that things should be ok.
The real nuisance move is 6. Bd3. It's hardly ever played, so databases don't help much, and isn't covered in any of the books I have. It might slow white down abit and after 6. ... e5 it's not clear what the bishop's doing there, so you are left feeling you ought to win and having to make up the opening as you go along which is always an awkward prospect as white hasn't really made a mistake, it's just not particularly forcing.
Originally posted by DeepThoughtI agree with this assessment 100%; despite not playing the najdorf seriously for 5 years, I still use it enough in blitz to be really annoyed and confused by the english attack and other quiet bishop moves.
Unless you're talking about OTB games then the lines with Bg5 aren't really that dangerous. White's plan is to hack his way to your king so there's no real positional sublety. I find the Be2/Be3 lines harder. With Bc4 you have to avoid a sacrifice on e6 and if you do that things should be ok.
The real nuisance move is 6. Bd3. It's hardly ever play ...[text shortened]... d prospect as white hasn't really made a mistake, it's just not particularly forcing.
Originally posted by zebanoThere's no doubt, the English Attack is the most theoretically challenging line you'll face in the Najdorf (It's the Najdorf equivalent of the Yugoslav). But OTB white has other options which can truly be a bitch to fight - I personally like to use the Freak Attack with 6.Rg1. It's not subtle or anything, but it can be brutal.
I agree with this assessment 100%; despite not playing the najdorf seriously for 5 years, I still use it enough in blitz to be really annoyed and confused by the english attack and other quiet bishop moves.
Originally posted by cmsMasterWow. I`ve never seen 6.Rg1 playing against Najdorf. I`ll have to try that, as I still dont know what to play against Najdorf.
There's no doubt, the English Attack is the most theoretically challenging line you'll face in the Najdorf (It's the Najdorf equivalent of the Yugoslav). But OTB white has other options which can truly be a bitch to fight - I personally like to use the Freak Attack with 6.Rg1. It's not subtle or anything, but it can be brutal.
Originally posted by KorchYeah, the Freak Attack is insane! There are plenty of GM games you can look at. I'd show you mine, but I doubt they'd help you much. 😛
Wow. I`ve never seen 6.Rg1 playing against Najdorf. I`ll have to try that, as I still dont know what to play against Najdorf.
What about 6. Be2, Karpov's favorite?
I've only ever played the white side of Najdorf (back when I played into Open Sicilians as white) and always used 6. Bc4. Black's main issues to worry about are the bishop sac on e6 (though often it isn't quite a sac as white would follow with Nxe6 and Nxg7, 3 pawns for a piece...right?) and white dominating d5 and sticking a knight there (that's how I won a uscf CC game.) I think there's a (Fischer?) game showing the latter in Reassess Your Chess.
Originally posted by cmsMasterHere is one I chose off my database. Just as the Be3, f3, g4 etc. line from the English Attack against the Scheveningen is transferred to the Najdorf, this looks like an attempt to play the Keres attack against it. The immediate 6. g4 only appears twice on my database and lost both times, so I assume it needs preparation with 6. Rg1.
Yeah, the Freak Attack is insane! There are plenty of GM games you can look at. I'd show you mine, but I doubt they'd help you much. 😛
[Event "Petrosian Memorial"]
[Site "Stepanakert AZE"]
[Date "2004.03.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Petrosian, TL"]
[Black "Ghaem Maghami, E"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2477"]
[BlackElo "2549"]
[ECO "B90"]
[EventDate "2004.03.09"]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 a6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Rg1 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.
g4 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 Bxd5 11.Rg3 Nc6 12.Rd3 Nb4 13.Rd2 Bxb3 14.
axb3 Qc8 15.c3 Nc6 16.Qf3 Be7 17.Bc4 O-O 18.Rd5 Qe6 19.Be3 e4 20.Qf5
Qxf5 21.gxf5 Bf6 22.Rd7 Rab8 23.Bd5 Ne5 24.Rxb7 Nd3+ 25.Ke2 Nxb2 26.
Bxf7+ Kh8 27.Rxb8 Rxb8 28.Bd4 Bxd4 29.cxd4 Rb6 30.Bc4 Nd3 31.Rxa6
Rxa6 32.Bxa6 1-0
Originally posted by DeepThoughtWhy didn't white take the queen on move 14? 😕
Here is one I chose off my database. Just as the Be3, f3, g4 etc. line from the English Attack against the Scheveningen is transferred to the Najdorf, this looks like an attempt to play the Keres attack against it. The immediate 6. g4 only appears twice on my database and lost both times, so I assume it needs preparation with 6. Rg1.
[Event "Petrosi ...[text shortened]... 27.Rxb8 Rxb8 28.Bd4 Bxd4 29.cxd4 Rb6 30.Bc4 Nd3 31.Rxa6
Rxa6 32.Bxa6 1-0