Of fo undational core, fr om which virtually all knowledge about thematic Sicilian structures and plans can be traced. Although the official subject of this book is the Najdorf variation, the two systems share many common themes and can often transpose to one another. In certain places. The Najdorf variation is the most popular line of the Sicilian defense. The main idea behind this line is to prepare the move e7-e5, which offers Black a majority in the centre and lots of ambitious attacking ideas. The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defense is one of the most popular openings from Black’s side, and some of the greatest minds have favored this opening in the game. It is aggressive yet positional. The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence Paperback – January 1, 1976 by Svetozar Gligoric (Author), Yefvim Geller (Author), Miguel Najdorf (Introduction) & 0 more 5.0 out of 5 stars 3 ratings. These two greats preferred to play the Najdorf variation of this opening. Because of them, a vast majority of players started to employ this opening. Today, some of the biggest experts in the Sicilian include Magnus Carlsen, Maxime Vachier Lagrave & Ian Nepomniachtchi.

I decided to test out a fun opening in the Sicilian Najdorf to come up with some main ideas. The sideline is called the Polugaevsky variation.

I played a best of 5 with my friend Andres who is a 2150 USCF and has played this line before.

Going into these games, I had only had two games where my opponent accepted my sacrifice. So I was going in blind. [spoiler alert] I was lucky to win the first game but got smoked the next three.

I also have two Polugaevsky games by great players, Peter Leko and Hikaru Nakamura, at the end of this article.

Before looking at the games, let’s look at how the Polugaevsky starts.

How Does the Najdorf Polugaevsky Variation Start

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 b5

B96 Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Polugaevsky Variation

7…b5 signifies the Polugaevsky variation.

The point of 7. f4 was to put pressure on the e5 square and immediately threaten 8. e5.

This is one of the main lines of the Sicilian Najdorf. What black usually does is:

Begins the Poisoned Pawn variation with Qb6
Blocks the pin with Be7
Prevents e5 with Nbd7 (also allowing the queen to move without doubling the pawns if the bishop on g5 takes the knight.

All of these ideas are ignored with the Polugaevsky, which begins right away to go with the eventual plan of Bb7 taking control of the long diagonal.

That begs the question, is black giving up a piece with b5?

There is a sharp tactical line after:

8. e5 dxe5 9. fxe5 Qc7 10. exf6 Qe5+ 11. Be2

The queen has managed to take back the bishop on g5 and activate the queen.

What black gives up in this variation is development, but it turns into a super sharp line that’s very fun to play.

Here are a few games where I learned the main ideas of both sides.

Games Played with Angres (Dres)

For all of these games, we each agreed to play the same line as white and as black, up to move 8, where we wanted to see where things took a turn.

Each of these games were played with 5 minutes and no increment so plenty of these decisions had to come quick.

Game 1: Dres v Ragnarok

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 b5

Black is welcoming e5, which white is threatening after f4. b5 is a move that black often will play anyway because of the pawn on e6 blocks the light squared bishop.

The point is that black will recapture the pawn on e5 with the d pawn, then Qe6, winning back the bishop.

8. e5 dxe5 9. fxe5 Qc7 10. exf6 Qe5+ 11. Be2

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White is clearly ahead in development, but black is not without compensation. The bishops have activity on the open diagonal, and the knight will soon be pinned after Bc5.

At least, that was my first idea.

11… Qxg5 12. O-O Bc5?

My first mistake when practicing. Ra7 was best.The bishop will do well on this diagonal, but first the rook needs to come into play via a7-d7. However, I don’t know why until after I play this game.

12… Ra7 13. Qd3 is best

13. Qd3??

My opponent may have thought I’d play the book move, Ra7, which is why this blunder occurred.

13… Bb7 Motorola mtp850 price.

Seizing the open diagonals with a lot of pressure. My goal is to threaten checkmate and keep pressure.

14. Ne4 Bxe4??

Sicilian Defence Najdorf Variation Book

Definitely a blunder and now I’m behind. Best was to play Qd5 and put two attackers on the pinned knight on d4. The knight on e4 is also pinned because of the threat of checkmate on g2.

Now that my rook is under attack, I decide to trade queens to keep the game relatively even. I didn’t think my rook belonged on a7. This turns out to have been the right decision.

The next series of moves center around the pinned knight on d4 and how I try to put more pressure on it. White doesn’t have time to move the king to h1 just yet.

15. Qxe4 Qd5 16. Qxd5 exd5 17. Rad1 Nc6 18. c3?!

The rest of the game is not instructional for the opening, but shows the ideas that can occur. I was able to win the game with a tactical maneuver.

18… O-O 19. fxg7 Kxg7

Black has a weak central pawn on d5, but the pressure on the pinned knight will give black activity with the knight.

Here is the game if you’d like to see the rest. This was the only game I won in a best of four.

Game 2 Ragnarok v Dres

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 b5

8. e5 dxe5 9. fxe5 Qc7 10. exf6 Qe5+ 11. Be2 Qxg5 12. O-O Ra7

The main idea for black is gain activity for the rook by pinning the knight to the queen.

Sure, black continues to delay development, but there is no good place for the minor pieces to develop yet.

This game shows how quickly the rook becomes an issue for white if not taken care of. }

13. Bf3

Already not realizing what’s happening. 13. Qd3 was best as mentioned in the previous game.

13… Rd7 14. Qd3

Attempting to get both rooks on the d and e files. However, this fails terribly by the next move.

14… Rxd4 15. Qxd4 Bc5

Other Ideas I could Have Tried Instead

(14. Rf2 e5

Pushing the pawn is preemptive as white doesn’t lose a piece like it originally looks,

15. Bd5 exd4 16. Qxd4 Bb7 17. Re1+)

If black takes the knight, then white is actually way ahead. The king is very exposed and check with Qb6 is coming if black doesn’t immediately give up a piece.

If black decides not the push the pawn and instead brings the queen back to e5, the position is more solid. Black should just develop

(14… Qe5 15. Nce2 gxf6 16. c3 16… Bh6)

Here’s the full game

Game 3 Dres v Ragnarok

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 b5

8. e5 dxe5 9. fxe5 Qc7 10. exf6 Qe5+ 11. Be2 Qxg5 12. O-O Ra7 13. Qd3 Rd7 14. Ne4 Qd5

The best idea is to play Qe5 and keep the pin on the queen. White needs to respond by protecting the knight

15. Rad1 Bb7 16. Bf3 (16. Qg3 Bc5) 16… Qxd4+ 17. Qxd4 Rxd4 18. Rxd4

The idea was to pin the rook and get the piece back, but I missed that the rook can take the bishop on e4 right away and sidestep the pin.

Bxe4 19. Rxe4 gxf6 20. Bh5 Bc5+ 21. Kh1 Ke7 22. a4 b4 23. Rc4 Nd7 24. Rd1 Bd6 25. Rcd4

There’s nothing left to do and another piece will fall

Black resigns.

1-0

Here’s the full game

Game 4 Dres v Ragnarok

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 b5
8. e5 dxe5 9. fxe5 Qc7 10. exf6 Qe5+ 11. Be2 Qxg5 12. O-O Bc5

Showing how sharp the game is. The engine already puts this game at +2.3 for white. Black needs to play the Ra7-d7 idea to maintain equality.

13. Kh1 Bb7

Looks good in my book. Bishops dominating the long diagonals. But white is +7.8 right now.<

Table of Contents

How Does the Najdorf Polugaevsky Variation Start

Games Played with Angres (Dres)

Game 1: Dres v Ragnarok

Sicilian Defence Najdorf Variation Book

Game 2 Ragnarok v Dres

Other Ideas I could Have Tried Instead

Here’s the full game

Game 3 Dres v Ragnarok

Here’s the full game

Game 4 Dres v Ragnarok