Anish Giri - Chessable Lifetime Repertoires: Najdorf Sicilian

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{ The Sicilian Najdorf is a one of a kind. It is the sharpest of all the sound openings and the soundest of all the sharp ones, and the Sicilian Najdorf has been played by many great uncompromising players throughout chess history. Serving as the main weapon for Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov against 1. e4 throughout their career, the Najdorf has accumulated a massive following by players of all levels. These days it is by far the most popular Sicilian and is played regularly by many top players, serving as the main repertoire for the Candidates: MVL, Nepo and myself. Others, including Magnus Carlsen himself, are also regularly using it when they are looking for a fighting weapon that doesnt require burning bridges and taking unnecessary gambles. I personally had started studying the Najdorf long before I started playing it. Fascinated by the games of Kasparov, Topalov and Vishy Anand around the 2000s, I started analysing the sharpest variations of the Najdorf and continued building the repertoire, while still for some reason not daring to try it out in my games all too often. At some point around the year 2015, after years of analysing it, I decided to try it out and immediately the results started pouring it. Both myself and my trainer at the time were surprised at how well the positions suited me, despite that I actually didnt have that much experience playing it. It turned out that all the analytical work and the nature of the positions played to my advantage and I had kept the Najdorf as part of my repertoire ever since. For a while, I was using it mainly as a weapon for special occasions, but as I had started growing more into it and started spending more and more time working on it, it had gradually become my main repertoire. The defining moment for me was when I was in a must-not-lose situation of my match against Magnus Carlsen during the MCI tournament leading 2-1 and Magnus played 1.e4. I lashed out the Najdorf while 1e5 and the solid Berlin endgame is also part of my repertoire and controlled the game from the beginning to the end. Later, I used the Najdorf against Magnus again, in the Chessable Masters, this time to win on-demand as well. This is where I am in my personal journey with the Najdorf, and I am sure that this course and my experience can help you, no matter where you are in yours. }

1. e4 { Best by test, they say! } 1 c5

{ This move defines the Sicilian, known as the sharpest and the most reliable way to fight against 1. e4!. It is literally the most popular move. Black fights for the centre, but avoids the symmetry, showing aggressive intentions from move one. }

2. Nf3

{ White has some sidelines if he chooses not to go for the main Sicilians - 2.c3 and 2.Nc3 being the most notable of those - and of course, they are all thoroughly covered in the course. }

2 d6

{ Taking the e5-square under control and preparing to develop the g8-knight to f6. }

3. d4

{ The Open Sicilian. The alternatives are covered in the course as well, and there are plenty here, most notably the 3.Bb5+ variation, which is one of the biggest chapters of the whole course. I personally consider 3.Bb5+ as a part of the Najdorf. }

3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 { Developing the knight, as planned! } 5. Nc3 a6

{ And it is this move that defines the Najdorf. The idea is not immediately obvious, but it is not too hidden either. Black wants to push the d4-knight away with e5, but 5e5 would be met by 6.Bb5+! followed by Nf5, when the knight on f5 is not only very disturbing, putting pressure on the d6-pawn, but can also reroute itself to the weakened d5-square via e3. At the same time, besides just threatening 6e5 , Black also keeps the option of 6e6 open, as the immediate 5e6 , runs into the so-called Keres-Attack with 6.g4! Compared to the 5Nc6 system, which is the Classical Sicilian, Black keeps the flexibility of the b8-knight and may want to develop it to d7, which makes the 6.Bg5-system somewhat less dangerous against the Najdorf than it is against the Classical Sicilian. Finally, besides protecting the b5-square from Bb5+, the pawn on a6 is also useful in the long run, when Black will start the queenside play with b5. White has a huge amount of options on the 6th move and perhaps that is one thing that might take an inexperienced player aback. The amount of theory seems to be infinite, but while that is partly true, against most of the systems, Blacks pieces follow a familiar development scheme and while it is possible to take us out of book, it will be hard to pose us with a problem that we wouldnt be equipped to solve, after having studied the standard development patterns, typical ideas and motives. The three most popular moves after 5a6 by far are 6.Bg5 , 6.Be3 and 6.Be2. Then follow 6.Bc4 , 6.h3 , 6.f4 , 6.g3 and 6.a4 and finally there come to a lot of moves that re-appeared on the horizon only recently, 6.Bd3 , 6.Rg1 , 6.Nb3 , 6.Qf3 , 6.Qe2 , 6.Qd3 , 6.a3 , 6.h4 and even 6.Bd2 as White had realized that almost every move on move 6 has some point. Against each move I give a full overview of options and explain my choices, against some I offer more than one solution and for the two biggest moves, 6. Bg5 and 6. Be3, I have a separate introduction chapter where I go into more detail about what options and move orders Black has and why I chose my particular recommendations. I am sure this will be useful for players of absolutely all levels, for the old and new fans of the Najdorf and I am sure those looking for a weapon against the Najdorf as well, will find my guidelines and instructions helpful. }

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[Black 6. Bg5 #1]

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1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 { Controlling the central e5-square and preparing Nf6! } 3.

d4 { Going for the Open Sicilian. } 3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6

{ Developing the knight, made possible by our pawn on d6. } 5. Nc3 a6

{ This move defines the Najdorf. Now we want to push e5 and Bb5+ is no longer an issue. }

6. Bg5

{ The most popular move, certainly on the club and amateur level. At the highest level, this move experiences ups and downs, as the theory here goes far too deep and it is increasingly hard to find new undiscovered ideas. Yet, every now and then they do pop up. The arising positions are razor-sharp and dangerous for both sides, yet my recommendation is as healthy and as sound as it gets. }

6 e6 { Intending to develop the bishop. } 7. f4

{ By far the most often played move. See the first theory chapter for some sidelines. }

7 Be7

{ The most flexible move to get our 3 piece setup, as 8.Qe2 can now be met by the 8h6 9.Bh4 Nxe4! 10.Bxe7 Nxc3 tactic. }

8. Qf3

{ The standard setup. The alternatives arent too promising for White but are nonetheless covered in the Chapter. Seehere for an example. }

8 Qc7

{ We are going for a Qc7 + Nbd7 setup and it is important to start with this move now to avoid the 8Nbd7?! 9.Bc4! option. }

9. O-O-O Nbd7

{ Our setup is complete now. Now we are ready for a b5 push or h6, depending on what White does. }

10. Bd3

{ This is a big line, together with 10.g4. Theory here goes very far but in the end, Black is fine. }

10 b5 11. Rhe1

{ Bringing the rook into the game and hinting at some Nd5 sacrifices. } 11

Bb7 12. Qg3

{ The most popular version of the piece sac, but do check out the Chapter for the alternatives. }

12 b4

{ Forcing matters. 12h6 is an alternative option and is covered here. }

13. Nd5 exd5 14. e5 { This may lead to a forced move repetition. } 14 dxe5

15. fxe5 Nh5 { Saving the extra piece for now. } 16. Qh4 Bxg5+ 17. Qxg5 g6

{ Hanging on to our h5-knight. } 18. e6