Tree path 12 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › Modern Variations › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › Modern Variations, Main Line › Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation › Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation › Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation › Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation › Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation
- Chess Codex
- King's Pawn Game B00
- Sicilian Defense B20
- Sicilian Defense B27
- Modern Variations B50
- Sicilian Defense B50
- Sicilian Defense B50
- Modern Variations, Main Line B54
- Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation B90
- Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation B94
- Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation B95
- Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation B96
- Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation B98 you are here
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation is a variation within the Semi-Open Games family, indexed as ECO B98.
The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.
The line arises from 14 plies — specifically the moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7.
It is a variation of Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, which itself descends from the root opening King's Pawn Game.
It branches into 3 notable variations — Browne Variation, Goteborg Variation, Traditional Line.
Together the deeper variations number 4 across the full subtree.
Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.
- ECO code
- B98
- Group
- Semi-Open Games (B)
- Plies
- 14
- Direct variations
- 3
- Total in subtree
- 4
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
1,004,792 games · White 51.6% / Draw 4.4% / Black 44.0%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Qf3 | 832,317 | |
| Bd3 | 33,980 | |
| Qd2 | 31,612 | |
| Bc4 | 25,420 | |
| Qe2 | 24,180 | |
| Be2 | 22,106 | |
| e5 | 18,867 | |
| Qd3 | 3,293 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:56:31
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