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Najdorf Main Line Question

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wjmolina

Why is the continuation 6. ... e6 and not 6. ... e5? Is it not a good idea to drive the knight on d4 away? Thanks in advance!

Crazychessplaya

You need to read up on transpositions, dude.

chessnut10

Isn't the main line e5?

chessnut10

Oh wait Bg5 was played.

chessnut10

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_Defence,_Najdorf_Variation#Main_Line_.286_Bg5.29

Archangel_Michael

The idea behind not playing 6. ... e5 is that the d5 square becomes especially weak with the f6 Knight pinned, and White still being able to play Bc4. 

chessnut10

Ok I see.

b3nnyhaha

you can leave the pawn on e7, and play Nbd7, and possibly play e5 in one go later, but its not necessarily bad to slow-step it. e6 makes playing d5 sooner easier sometimes.

MSC157

In Opocensky (6.Be2), 6...e5 is very common, but there...not.

NimzoRoy

I'm not trying to be rude or snide here:

Just start playing 6...e5 in this position whenever you can, and sooner or later your opponents will answer the question for you. OR you can just take it for granted that everyone else knows something you don't and stick with the most popular moves in the Game Explorer here OR you can blindly play the percentages, who knows, maybe 6...e5 will work for you

Database:  MASTER GAMES

MoveGames
White Wins
Draws
Black Wins
6...e6 7,721
40.4% 23.6% 36%
6...Nbd7 635
44.3% 21.1% 34.6%
6...Nc6 479
36.1% 25.7% 38.2%
6...e5 29
62.1% 24.1% 13.8%
azziralc

...e5 has been played, but the backward pawn on d6 is weak.

If ...e6 then, it will be meant by f4 (intending e5) pinning the knight.

azziralc

Right choice is to look on chess.com explorer