No ,it's not dead, but theory has become a bit too heavy for OTB play (it's more popular in correspondence chess i think). Also (i'm not 100% sure) some forced draws have been found (if W wants). It's very demotivating to learn tons of theory to reach an unbalanced position only to be forced to accept an early draw.

Anyway it remains a fascinating variation.

yeah pretty much, black keeps his pawn, white has forced draws, but whats the point if you draw against the best

bresando, I think you're so right!  This is definately a "fascinating variation" to say the least, and a real exciting adventure to play, too! 

Firepower8, any Najdorf Sicilian Defense Variation has explosive potential if the player with the Black pieces knows how to handle it!  The whole Sicilian Opening System (lines of play) are like a two-edged sword - capable of cutting both ways & never boring unless the players want to make it so!

Thanks for your participating in the discussion!

ChessPaladin2009   

I prefer the 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.f4 Qc7 8.Qf3 h6!? 9.Bh4 g5!? variation advocated in Ftacnik's book. There isn't as much theory developed and the line is still new. Black gets nice play for the pawn here.

This is the main  practical problem with the PP today i fear. Since most sicilian lines are unbalanced enough, it's not so attractive to play a variation where W can bale out with a draw. You have all the cons of very sharp lines (tons of theory being the main issue) without the main pro (you can't be certain of playing for a win). Also the vast majority of W players avoid the PP.

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Draws?!  Losses?!  Let's stop looking at the "statisics" concerning the "Poisoned Pawn" Variation & the lines of play that come out of it.  If Bobby Fischer played this in competition(tournaments & matchs - even against Boris Spassky in 1972), it wasn't to achieve a draw!  Bobby was always highly competitive & played for a win as far as I can remember!  Granted, this variation is a real challenge & difficult to play well, but I think it's far from dead & very much alive even if the world chess community thinks otherwise.  It needs another champion like Bobby Fischer to pump new life into it again! 

ChessPaladin2009

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Wow, I'll have to see those games. Ive been lazy to get the megabase updates recently but I guess i'll update now.

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It's true, Fisher played it with aggressive intent. But theory moves on and something that used to be sharp can now be drawish (just look at the classical Nf3 KG with 3...g5 4.h4 g4 5.Ne5 for example, which is now full of drawing lines). I have also seen the marshall gambit in the ruy lopez called "the most perfect drawing weapon against the ruy with correct play".The variation is of course very unbalancing and challenging at amateur level, but i'm not sure a pro is likely to win many games with it.

Your points are all well taken: bresando; LavaRook; ajedrecito & Firepower8!  Thanks again!  Are there any other Najdorf Sicilian "Poisoned Pawn" Variation afficianados out there in the chess community who would like to "chime in" on this interesting subject - either pro or con - makes no difference?!

ChessPaladin2009

ChessPaladin2009, give a look to Radjabov-Nakamura, currently underway. Not exactly the poisoned pawn but quite similar! 

http://www.turneulregilor.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=266&lang=en

Interesting game, bresando.  Thanks!

ChessPaladin2009

No it's not dead, far from it. While it's true that white can force a draw with very accurate play coupled with heavy study blacks goal in any line is to equalize first. If the white player is going for a draw after having the first move that tells you this opening is a tough nut to crack. I personally think the reason we don't see this opening more often is that Be3 and the English attack is more in favor today than the ultra sharp Bg5 lines that lead into the poisoned pawn.

Good point, Peedee!  Thanks!

ChessPaladin2009