How to Beat the Sicilian Najdorf

What you're facing: The Rolls-Royce of openings — Fischer's and Kasparov's weapon of choice, where 5…a6 prepares total queenside expansion.

The moves you'll see

Your counter-plans

• The English Attack (6. Be3, f3, Qd2, 0-0-0, g4) launches pawns at Black's king while your own hides on the queenside.
• 6. Bg5 pins and threatens to wreck Black's structure with Bxf6 — the most forcing try.
• Keep the d5-square in mind: if you plant a knight there and Black can't remove it, the game strategically ends.

What your opponent is trying to do

• …a6 stops every piece landing on b5, preparing …e5 or …e6 plus …b5 with a massive queenside initiative.
• Classic Najdorf plans: …e5 hitting the d4-knight, …Be7, …Be6, and rooks to c8 — the c-file is your highway.
• Know your pet line against 6. Bg5 — the Poisoned Pawn (…Qb6!?) wins a pawn if White missteps.

Rehearse your defense against the computer until the counter-plans are muscle memory — free, in your browser.