Sicilian Najdorf: 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.O-O 9.Kh1
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Kh1
Definition
This term designates a specific branch of the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defense (ECO code B92). After the opening moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6, White chooses the positional move 6.Be2 instead of the sharper 6.Bg5, 6.Be3 or 6.f4. Black replies with the characteristic Najdorf thrust 6…e5, driving the d4-knight to b3. The sequence continues 7.Nb3 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Kh1, reaching a calm yet flexible middlegame in which both sides have many plans.
Typical Move Order
- 1. e4 c5
- 2. Nf3 d6
- 3. d4 cxd4
- 4. Nxd4 Nf6
- 5. Nc3 a6 (the Najdorf signature)
- 6. Be2 e5
- 7. Nb3 Be7
- 8. O-O O-O
- 9. Kh1
Strategic Ideas
- White’s setup
- 6.Be2 keeps the king safe and avoids heavy theory, preparing f2-f4 or f2-f3 followed by Be3, Qe1–g3 and a slow kingside build-up.
- The retreat 7.Nb3 eyes the d5-square and supports the thematic c2-c4 break in some lines.
- 9.Kh1 sidesteps the g1–a7 diagonal, unpins the f-pawn and vicariously prepares a future g-pawn advance or rook lift to g1.
- Black’s counterplay
- The pawn wedge on e5 grabs central space and restricts the white knight.
- Usual development continues …Be6, …Nbd7, …Qc7, and sometimes …b5–b4 to drive the c3-knight before striking with …d6-d5.
- Because opposite-side castling is avoided, the game often turns into a slow manoeuvring battle in which pawn breaks (f4, g4 for White; d5, b4 for Black) are timed carefully.
Historical & Theoretical Significance
The Najdorf is one of the most analysed openings in chess, and the 6.Be2 line has served as a practical anti-theoretical weapon for many grandmasters wishing to avoid the razor-sharp English Attack (6.Be3) or the Poisoned-Pawn Variation (6.Bg5). Anatoly Karpov, Jan Timman, Vassily Ivanchuk and, more recently, Fabiano Caruana have all employed 6.Be2 at the highest level. Engines rate the position after 9.Kh1 as equal, but with a rich imbalance of ideas that gives both sides winning chances.
Illustrative Games
- Karpov – Timman, Tilburg 1988 – Karpov shows the classical plan f2-f3, Be3, a2-a4, squeezing Black on the dark squares before breaking through on the kingside.
- Caruana – Carlsen, WCh Match (Game 8) 2018 – Caruana surprises with 6.Be2 and steers the game into this exact setup; the World Champion equalises but must defend accurately for 38 moves.
- Kaidanov – Shirov, Linares 1994 – A tactical showcase in which Shirov demonstrates Black’s thematic …d6-d5 break followed by a queenside pawn storm.
Mini-PGN of the stem position:
Typical Plans & Motifs
- White: f2-f4, g2-g4, Be3, Qe1, Rd1 and sometimes a2-a4 to restrain Black’s queenside pawns.
- Black: …Be6–d7–c6, …Qc7, …b5–b4, and the central break …d6-d5.
- Minor-piece manoeuvres: Nb3-d2-f1-e3 (White) versus …Nbd7-b6-c4 (Black).
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The quiet-looking 9.Kh1 is nicknamed the “little tuck-in” by commentators; it removes the king from future checks on the long diagonal and clears the g-file for a rook lift.
- In correspondence databases the line scores slightly over 50 % for White, one of the best records among the positional Najdorf systems.
- Grandmaster Alexei Shirov once quipped that the move 6.Be2 is “what you play when you want to out-play your opponent instead of your computer file.”
- ECO codes sometimes list the position after 6.Be2 as both B90 and B92, depending on when …e5 is inserted; modern manuals standardise it as B92.