Chess openings / Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation (B97) starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6. In 2,040 games between strong players, White wins 40%, 33% are drawn and Black wins 27%; the most played move is 8.Qd2 (65%).

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6

ECO
B97
Games between strong players
2,040
To move
White
40%33%27%

White wins, draws and Black wins, from this position.

What strong players play next

The moves played most from this position in over-the-board broadcasts and the Lichess Elite Database, how often, and how the games ended.

MovePlayedResultsLeads to
8.Qd265% (1,335)44%35%21%–
8.Nb326% (525)28%34%38%–
8.a35% (95)40%14%46%–
8.Qd33% (61)44%18%38%–
8.Bxf61% (17)53%41%–

Where it comes from and where it goes

Branches from Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6

More Sicilian Defense lines

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