What is a good way to play against the Najdorf? - Chess Forums

EasyChessOfficial1980

Apr 29, 2017

0

#1

What is a good way to play against the Najdorf? I am rated around 1650 so I am looking for a fairly simple system that gives me chances against players in the 1600-1800 range. I have been looking at the Adams attack, and the English attack. Any ideas about these two, and if possible some links to videos. Thanks

NM dpnorman

Apr 29, 2017

0

#2

jengaias wrote:

There is no certain way to play against the Najdorf since there are many ways Black can play(as is the case with all good defenses).

He's just asking for a recommendation...

6. h3 is interesting. It attempts to improve upon the slower but more normal 6. g3 (h3 idea is to play 7. g4)

6. Bg5 is the most theoretical. If you want to play an English attack then 6. Be3 and 6. f3 are both possible, each allowing little different things

penandpaper0089

Apr 29, 2017

0

#3

Why not just 6.Be2? You just get the pieces out and play typical sicilian positions.

Or maybe try this 6.Nb3 move with the idea of 6...e5 7.Bg5. If 6...e6 then you are just playing a scheveningen with the knight on b3.

I used to like 6.Bc4 with the repertoire idea of forcing scheveningen structures as much as possible since they are the typical sicilian structure.

snakey77

Apr 29, 2017

0

#4

H3 and bg5 are the best IMO. I personally suggest a3 - not everyone knows about it, there is not a massive amount of theory to be learned and it can give you some valuable experience with opposite coloured bishops.

NM LogoCzar

Apr 29, 2017

0

#5

1.d4

swarminglocusts

Apr 29, 2017

0

#6

I've always had a hard time with playing both sides of the sicilian since they are both complex. I would learn the games where players won as white and see how they pawnstormed the heck out of blacks camp. It truly takes a champ to stop a good pawn storm or fight for counterplay. f3,g4 g5 is hard to fight against. The Be2 route is also a great way to go. I finally bought a sicilian Schevenengen opening book I plan on finishing this summer. There are so many lines I found drawish with e4 like the French and Ruy Lopez I finally switched to playing 1.c4 and 1.Nf3. I know I am good at pawn play and fighting in the center with post modern theory that I like these openings better. Another thing in chess is if you can control the game going your way and steer blacks defense back into your powerhouse you can gain the edge. The Keres attack and the smith morra gambit are both great options. Look up the smith Morra on YouTube and also look up the wing gambit and see how Fisher turned a "refuted opening" into a crushing attack. There is also a second video where Spassky I believe did the exact Wing Gambit and crushed their opponent. So..

know your strengths and find openings that match your likeness

study many games of the lines to see how they win and control the lines you play if possible

don't be afraid to lose and try new things.

swarminglocusts

Apr 29, 2017

0

#7

snakey77 wrote:

H3 and bg5 are the best IMO. I personally suggest a3 - not everyone knows about it, there is not a massive amount of theory to be learned and it can give you some valuable experience with opposite coloured bishops.

What is the purpose of a3 or the long term strategy behind it?

snakey77

Apr 29, 2017

0

#8

To make nf5 playable after e5, defend against some b5 b4 threats I guess.

fieldsofforce

Apr 29, 2017

0

#9

C233sz wrote:

What is a good way to play against the Najdorf? I am rated around 1650 so I am looking for a fairly simple system that gives me chances against players in the 1600-1800 range. I have been looking at the Adams attack, and the English attack. Any ideas about these two, and if possible some links to videos. Thanks

_____________________

The best to play against the Najdorf Sicilian is to avoid the whole variation. Play the best anti-Sicilian opening. Play the Closed Sicilian: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3. With your 1650 rating you are sticking to good opening principles and Development. Remember a piece move is development. A pawn move is an aid to development.

AlucardII

Apr 29, 2017

0

#10

The joker in me wants to answer the OP's question with "3.Bb5" And of course the realist in me realises that the joker is coming out because I myself don't have anything good against the Najdorf... I'm looking into Sozin lines, though; so many possibilities of sacrificing on e6 in many lines.

I looked into the Adams attack as well, but to be honest it seems to be very complicated. I'm not sure playing such a slow move as h3 against a line like the Najdorf is advisable unless you really know what you're doing. Bg5 is theoretical as the bejesus, so I figure you can narrow it down to the English or Sozin lines, or indeed lines with Be2 (although personally I would feel like I'm letting the bishop down by not placing him on a more aggressive square; my bishops are eager to mow down heretics in a diagonal fashion).

BronsteinPawn

Apr 29, 2017

0

#11

logozar escribió:

1.d4

Stop reading soviet books please, we are losing you.

BronsteinPawn

Apr 29, 2017

0

#12

Play 6.g3, just dont pee when you play h3-g4 and your opponent´s face goes red.

NM LogoCzar

Apr 30, 2017

0

#13

If Black isn't aware of white's h3-g4 plan, why would he be playing the Najdorf?

schachfan1

Apr 30, 2017

0

#14

Against the Najdorf, I like Bg5 followed by f4, and when it comes to the "Poisoned pawn variation", when Black chooses Qd8-b6, the positions are seldom dull there, although some theoretical preparation might be needed.

BronsteinPawn

Apr 30, 2017

0

#15

logozar escribió:

If Black isn't aware of white's h3-g4 plan, why would he be playing the Najdorf?

Do you think people study their openings???

swarminglocusts

Apr 30, 2017

0

#16

BronsteinPawn wrote:

logozar escribió:

If Black isn't aware of white's h3-g4 plan, why would he be playing the Najdorf?

Do you think people study their openings???

I certainly do.

Khalayx

May 1, 2017

0

#17

I personally find Bg5 the most annoying to play against, as black. But with the white pieces I play Be3 as it is more consistent with the way I play against most other Sicilians, and maybe a little easier to learn. Both can be very sharp.

As someone else pointed out, Be2 would also be a perfectly respectable way to play, and maybe a little simpler than the above. This tends to be a more positional style.

"Anti-Sicilians" are surprisingly popular in internet play but give up your advantage as white and, imo, are pretty boring. If you prefer this style of play I would not recommend e4. (I recognize many on here will disagree)

Lastly, this is a little hypocritical as I have played it for many years, but this opening isn't really recommendable for us "mere mortals" and you should maybe consider playing something else, as black. In hindsight the amount of time I spent learning the various lines would have been better spent on tactics/endgame study/game review. On the other hand if you're an opening theory junkie, have at it.

kindaspongey

May 1, 2017

0

#18

EasyChessOfficial1980

May 1, 2017

0

#19

thanks for the advice. Many ideas, but I think I will go with post #11 and look into the closed sicilian. seems like a simple method

NM dpnorman

May 1, 2017

0

#20

@Khalayx "'Anti-Sicilians' are surprisingly popular in internet play but give up your advantage as white and, imo, are pretty boring. If you prefer this style of play I would not recommend e4. (I recognize many on here will disagree)"

Yeah, I disagree pretty strongly with this, so you got that right

I mean if you think white gives up an advantage playing the Rossolimo instead of 3. d4, or, against 2...d6, 3. Bb5+, then you're going to have to prove that he gets more of an advantage in the Open Sicilian.

I also don't agree at all that they're boring, especially the Rossolimo Bb5 lines which strategically can be rather rich, but I guess the prevailing opinion is that for a variation not to be boring it must involve opposite side castling and both sides trying to checkmate each other on move fifteen...and twenty moves of prep from both sides