Chess Codex
Tree path 13 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 › Poisoned Pawn Variation › Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Accepted
  1. Chess Codex
  2. King's Pawn Game B00
  3. Sicilian Defense B20
  4. Sicilian Defense B27
  5. Modern Variations B50
  6. Sicilian Defense B50
  7. Sicilian Defense B50
  8. Modern Variations, Main Line B54
  9. Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation B90
  10. Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation B94
  11. Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation B95
  12. Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation B96
  13. Poisoned Pawn Variation B97
  14. Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Accepted B97 you are here
B97

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Accepted

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Overview

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Accepted is a named branch in the Semi-Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO B97.

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.

It begins with 18 plies and takes 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 to reach the canonical position.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code
B97
Group
Semi-Open Games (B)
Plies
18
Parent
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation

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

62,799 games · White 49.5% / Draw 4.8% / Black 45.7%

MovesGamesW / D / B
e520,628
f515,677
Bxf69,454
Be25,722
Rb34,505
Bc44,277
Bd31,665
Nb3443

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:19:14

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https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-najdorf-variation-poisoned-pawn-accepted