I'm not sure what the distinctive move of the Najdorf, a6, is for. It seems like a waste of time. The Najdorf scores well and is played by top GMs so I know I must be missing something. If it's not played, white usually moves one of his knight to b5 ( I can't remember which), but I just don't see the threat. What is the purpose of a6?
Originally posted by ark13The reason why you want to keep the Knight off b5 by playing a6, is so you can play your Queen to c7 and apply pressure down the half-open c-file. The whole idea behind any Sicilian is a rapid Queenside counterattack by Black; hard to do with White pieces deployed at b5. Eventually, you want your pawn to advance to b5, so your Bishop can be deployed on the long diagonal as well, putting pressure on White's center.
I'm not sure what the distinctive move of the Najdorf, a6, is for. It seems like a waste of time. The Najdorf scores well and is played by top GMs so I know I must be missing something. If it's not played, white usually moves one of his ...[text shortened]... ch), but I just don't see the threat. What is the purpose of a6?
Originally posted by no1marauderThe difference of character between Najdorj players and Dragon players is that the Dragons will put their rating on the line while Najdorj players will play unrated games... Such sissies... 😛
The reason why you want to keep the Knight off b5 by playing a6, is so you can play your Queen to c7 and apply pressure down the half-open c-file. The whole idea behind any Sicilian is a rapid Queenside counterattack by Black; hard to do with White pieces deployed at b5. Eventually, you want your pawn to advance to b5, so your Bishop can be deployed on the long diagonal as well, putting pressure on White's center.
Originally posted by AlopintoUnrated games??? Never heard of 'em! I'll admit Dragon players regularly put their ratings in jeopardy by playing such an inferior branch of the Sicilian, but such folly is to be pitied, not praised.
The difference of character between Najdorj players and Dragon players is that the Dragons will put their rating on the line while Najdorj players will play unrated games... Such sissies... 😛
But couldn't you kick the knight off b5 with a6 after it went there? That way you'd gain a move.
Oh, and by the way I have statistics based on more than 3 million games. The Najdorf scores a high 49% and the dragon is 3 points lower. The dragon has a slightly smaller drawing quotient, though. Also, the Najdorf has been played more than twice as often as the dragon and performs 84 points higher.
Originally posted by ark13If you haven't played a6 then after you play Qc7 the knight can be played to b5. Of course you can't simply chase it away as your queen is under attack.
But couldn't you kick the knight off b5 with a6 after it went there? That way you'd gain a move.
Oh, and by the way I have statistics based on more than 3 million games. The Najdorf scores a high 49% and the dragon is 3 points lower. The dragon has a slightly smaller drawing quotient, though. Also, the Najdorf has been played more than twice as often as the dragon and performs 84 points higher.
And there is nothing wrong with the dragon.
Originally posted by ark13Sense of humour alert.
But couldn't you kick the knight off b5 with a6 after it went there? That way you'd gain a move.
Oh, and by the way I have statistics based on more than 3 million games. The Najdorf scores a high 49% and the dragon is 3 points lower. The dragon has a slightly smaller drawing quotient, though. Also, the Najdorf has been played more than twice as often as the dragon and performs 84 points higher.
Originally posted by ark13Besides a multi-million game database, I also keep up a much smaller database. It consists of games played in 2001 or later, at slow time controls, where both players were rated at least 2400, and where the games lasted at least 20 moves. The point is to look at recent grandmaster practice.
Oh, and by the way I have statistics based on more than 3 million games. The Najdorf scores a high 49% and the dragon is 3 points lower. The dragon has a slightly smaller drawing quotient, though. Also, the Najdorf has been played more than twice as often as the dragon and performs 84 points higher.
That database, of about 50,000 games, shows the Najdorf scoring 46% in 2,166 games, and the Dragon scoring 41% in 280 games. In other words, grandmasters don't very often play the Dragon against other grandmasters, because they don't do very well with it.
Which isn't to say that we shouldn't play it. It's sort of like playing most gambits - if your opponent knows the opening as well as you do, you're probably going to lose. Otherwise, you're going to have the fun of playing a strong attack. I'd put the Dragon in the same category.
If you do not like the Najdorf than I recommend the Kan. It is the exact same as the Najdorf and it has the same ideas. One drawback is that the King's knight is not deployed as early and that a Maroczy Bind can be played. However the advantages are a possible d4 break. Solid defence, and quick queenside pressure. The Kan is: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd 5. a6. The e6 pawn is guarding the e5 square as the knight in the najdorf, another plus is that the knight can't be pinned with Bg5.
Originally posted by ChEsSExPeRt58Bc4 in the King's Gambit is a high class waiting move (according to Fischer). a6 (not a3) is prophylaxis or active defence.
a3 is sort of a high class waiting move. First, it prevents Nb5 so your queen is safe on c7. Second, it waits for the opponent to commit himself first then make your own plans, Lastly (but most important) it prepares a q-side counterattack.
