Caissa Codex
B84

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Scheveningen Variation

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Scheveningen Variation after 7…Nbd7

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

24,179 games: White 44.0% / Draw 4.8% / Black 51.3%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
6,8146,814
5,7555,755
3,8713,871
2,7192,719
1,3011,301
929929
584584
396396

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.37 White is slightly better

Best play: 8. a4 Nc5 9. Bf3 Be7 10. a5 O-O 11. Be3 Ncd7 12. Be2 Qc7

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Scheveningen Variation (ECO B84, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Nbd7 (7 moves).

In 24,179 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 44.0%, Black 51.3% and 4.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. Be3, in 28% of those games.

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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Scheveningen Variation

8. a4 scores best for White: 50.6%, with White winning 48.4% and Black 47.2% of 1,301 games. The most played, 8. Be3, scores 45.4% in 6,814 games, and 8. Bg5 scores lowest: 43.3%. Stockfish's first choice is also 8. a4.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 7. O-O Nbd7, the position after Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Scheveningen Variation (B84)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-najdorf-variation-scheveningen-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-najdorf-variation-scheveningen-variation