Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation
Chess opening · ECO B90 · 10 half-moves
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6
The Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation is reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6. It is White's move in the position shown.
It branches from the Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line with 5. Nc3 a6.
How often it is played
The Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation and its variations appeared in 0.25% of games — 7,418 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 160 of the openings listed here.
Results
White won 46%, 7.2% were drawn and Black won 47%. These are games between players of every strength and time control, so they say how the opening does in practice rather than how sound it is.
What the engine thinks
Stockfish, at depth 18, evaluates the position at +0.44 — a small edge for White. Positive numbers favour White; see reading the evaluation bar.
Similar openings
The most-played alternatives — what else could have been chosen around the move where this opening begins.
| Opening | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 | 2.1% |
| Sicilian Defense: French Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 | 1.3% |
| Sicilian Defense: Closed | 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 | 0.99% |
Main continuations
| Variation | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 | 0.06% |
| Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Lipnitsky Attack | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 | 0.03% |
| Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 | 0.02% |
| Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Adams Attack | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 | 0.01% |
| Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Traditional Line | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 | 0.01% |
| Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Amsterdam Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 | 0.01% |
| Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Zagreb Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 | 0.00% |
| Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 | 0.00% |
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