2. Najdorf: Fischer-Sozin Attack (6.Bc4 e6)
With 6.Bc4 White aims at e6 and f7, Fischer's favorite weapon. Black closes the diagonal with 6...e6, gains space with ...b5 and puts the queen on c7 to control e5 before castling.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.O-O Be7 9.Qf3 Qc7
Move by move
- 1.e4 – White occupies the center with the king's pawn, controls d5 and f5 and frees the queen and the f1-bishop. This is the move we answer with the Sicilian.
- 1...c5 – The Sicilian Defense: Black controls d4 with a flank pawn instead of occupying the center. If White plays d4, Black will trade c5 for d4 and have two central pawns against one and the half-open c-file.
- 2.Nf3 – White develops the knight toward the center and prepares d2-d4 to open the game: it is the road to the Open Sicilian, the most ambitious try against us.
- 2...d6 – Black controls e5, opens the diagonal for the c8-bishop and prepares ...Nf6: after 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 the e4-pawn will be attacked right away. It is the basis of the Najdorf and the Dragon.
- 3.d4 – White opens the center: it offers the d4 pawn trade against c5 to develop quickly and use the lead in development in an open position.
- 3...cxd4 – Black trades at once: it removes White's d-pawn, keeps two central pawns (d6 and e7) against one and opens the c-file for rook and queen.
- 4.Nxd4 – White recaptures with the knight, which dominates the center from d4. In exchange for faster development it has conceded the central majority to Black.
- 4...Nf6 – Black develops with tempo by attacking e4. White has to defend it with 5.Nc3 and loses the chance to play c2-c4, which would give the solid Maróczy structure.
- 5.Nc3 – White defends e4 by developing a piece: it is the basic position of the Open Sicilian, from which the Najdorf, Dragon, Scheveningen and Classical arise.
- 5...a6 – The Najdorf: ...a6 takes the b5 square away from White's knights and bishop and prepares ...b5 or ...e5. Black waits to see White's plan before choosing the central structure.
- 6.Bc4 – The Fischer-Sozin Attack: the bishop aims at f7 and at the e6 square. White prepares f4-f5 or a sacrifice on e6 if Black develops carelessly.
- 6...e6 – Black closes the c4-bishop's diagonal toward f7 and switches to a Scheveningen structure. ...e5 here would give White the d5 square and pressure on f7.
- 7.Bb3 – White retreats the bishop before ...b5 kicks it away with tempo. From b3 the bishop keeps watching e6, ready for the Nxe6 sacrifices or for f4-f5.
- 7...b5 – Black gains space and prepares ...Bb7, which will increase the pressure on e4, and ...b4 to kick the c3-knight that defends it.
- 8.O-O – White brings the king to safety and puts the rook on the f-file: it prepares f4-f5 against e6 or the queen on f3 or g3.
- 8...Be7 – Black completes the development of the kingside and gets ready to castle. The bishop on e7 also defends d6 and the f6-knight.
- 9.Qf3 – The queen threatens e4-e5: after ...dxe5 the f3-a8 diagonal would open against the a8-rook. It also prepares Qg3 to attack g7.
- 9...Qc7 – The queen leaves the d-file and presses on the c-file against c3 and c2. Black prepares ...Bb7, which will close the f3-a8 diagonal, and against Qg3 it will be able to castle.
How to exploit the position
Black has a solid Scheveningen structure with ...b5 already played: it must finish development and use the pressure on e4. White will look for Qg3 against g7 and the f4-f5 push.
- Against 10.Qg3 castle: if 11.Bh6 then, the knight goes to e8 and the g7-pawn stays covered.
- Develop with ...Bb7 and ...Nbd7 (or ...Nc6): the b7-bishop and the f6-knight attack e4 together.
- Push ...b4 at the right moment to kick the c3-knight, the only defender of e4.
- Beware of the Nxe6 and Bxe6 sacrifices: do not leave e6 defended only by the f7-pawn.
Master tips
...e6 first of all
Against 6.Bc4 the right move is 6...e6, which closes the c4-bishop on f7.