Najdorf: 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.Bg2 O-O

Sicilian: Najdorf, 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.Bg2 O-O

Definition

The sequence of moves 1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.Bg2 O-O defines a specialised branch of the Najdorf Sicilian in which White fianchettoes the king’s-bishop. It is often called the “Fianchetto Najdorf” or simply “6.g3 Najdorf.”

Typical Move Order

The critical position arises after the eight moves shown above. Other variations often converge by transposition, but the key identifiers are:

• ...a6 inserted by Black on move 5 (hallmark of the Najdorf).
• White’s early g2–g3 followed by fianchetto of the bishop.
• Black’s central thrust ...e5, after which the knight retreats to e2 instead of b3 or f3.

Strategic Ideas

For White

• Place the bishop on g2 to exert long-range pressure on the centre and the queenside.
• Maintain a flexible pawn structure; c2–c4 or f2–f4 are common breaks.
• Delay kingside castling if useful; sometimes White plays h3, Be3, Qd2 and castles long.
• Avoid heavy theory in the razor-sharp 6.Bg5 and 6.Be3 lines while still confronting Black with original problems.

For Black

• ...e5 claims central space and locks out the d4-knight from c3.
• Typical set-up: ...Be6, ...Nbd7, ...b5, and sometimes ...Qc7 or ...Nbd7-b6.
• Black will often aim for a minority attack on the queenside with ...b4 combined with pressure on e4.
• The early ...Be7 and ...O-O keep the position sound and minimize tactical risk.

Historical Context

The move 6.g3 was experimented with by Paul Keres in the 1950s, but it remained a sideline until the 1990s, when players such as Michael Adams, Peter Leko, and Boris Gelfand revived it as a practical anti-Najdorf weapon. Magnus Carlsen and Anish Giri have also used the variation to avoid heavily-analysed theoretical minefields.

Notable Games

1. Karpov – Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 1994: Karpov showed a slow-burn positional squeeze, eventually cashing in on a powerful d5-square.
2. Adams – Gelfand, Tilburg 1998: White’s kingside pawn storm (f2–f4–f5) demonstrated the latent attacking chances behind the quiet set-up.
3. Carlsen – Aronian, Candidates 2013: A modern illustration of Black equalising comfortably with precise queenside play.

Interactive miniature:

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• The retreat 7.Nde2 violates the “knight’s ideal of advancing toward the centre,” yet computer evaluations show it is quite sound—proof that chess principles always make room for concrete exceptions.
• Because the line avoids many forcing sequences, it is a favourite of grandmasters looking to “play chess” rather than test home preparation.
• In several engines’ opening books, 6.g3 is flagged as one of the best practical tries for the White side to sidestep the famed Najdorf theory huts stretching hundreds of moves deep.

Practical Tips

• White: Memorise a few key plans (c2–c4 expansion, f2–f4 thrust) rather than long forcing lines; be alert to Black’s ...d5 break.
• Black: Consider an early ...b5–b4 when the c3-knight is absent from its usual post; watch out for tactical shots on the a2–g8 diagonal once the bishop reaches g2.