One of the more solid responses is 6 Be2
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067842
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How to counter Najdorf
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look at all the options and choose one you like
Mar 11, 2024
0
#4
You can just never allow the najdorf in the first place. Main thing here is the alapin or delayed alapin, but you can also do something like e4 c5 Nf3 d6 d4 cxd4 Qxd4!? Which doesn’t allow the najdorf. Or avoid the sicilian altogether by playing the fianchetto closed or gran prix attack
Mar 11, 2024
0
#5
@tygxc Actually my current repertoire was Be2 but I didnt find much sucess and it really grinded my gears. @lassus_dinnao I am quite curious to try grand prix attack thanks for helping.
the grand prix tends to be quite unfun for white when black knows what hes doing. if you like tactical games then stick with the open sicilian and maybe try Bg5 or the fischer sozin
Mar 11, 2024
0
#7
GardenMaster64 wrote:
@tygxc Actually my current repertoire was Be2 but I didnt find much sucess and it really grinded my gears. @lassus_dinnao I am quite curious to try grand prix attack thanks for helping.
Are you playing it correctly?
Whose games do you study as references for the 6. Be2 Najdorf? Karpov? Geller?
If you are getting tired of that line, have you looked into 6. Bg5? It's an older line like 6. Be2.
Try this:
Murder on the h-file - Chess Forums - Chess.com
You could also try playing the prince variation.
Mar 13, 2024
0
#9
What about Maroczy Bind? @Regalbeginning the name sounds interesting I'll check it out.
Mar 13, 2024
0
#10
Regalbeginning wrote:
You could also try playing the prince variation.
Prins?
blueemu wrote:
GardenMaster64 wrote:
@tygxc Actually my current repertoire was Be2 but I didnt find much sucess and it really grinded my gears. @lassus_dinnao I am quite curious to try grand prix attack thanks for helping.
Are you playing it correctly?
Whose games do you study as references for the 6. Be2 Najdorf? Karpov? Geller?
Agree. Be2 is a challenging line. Tim Taylor's book Slay the Sicilian explains how to play the resulting positions [based on Karpov's games and vs both e5 and e6] well.
I play Bg5 but I'm finding that theory has moved on a lot from 40 years ago when I was on top of it. Catching up there feels like a hopeless job. .
Bill
SwimmerBill wrote:
blueemu wrote:
GardenMaster64 wrote:
@tygxc Actually my current repertoire was Be2 but I didnt find much sucess and it really grinded my gears. @lassus_dinnao I am quite curious to try grand prix attack thanks for helping.
Are you playing it correctly?
Whose games do you study as references for the 6. Be2 Najdorf? Karpov? Geller?
Agree. Be2 is a challenging line. Tim Taylor's book Slay the Sicilian explains how to play the resulting positions [based on Karpov's games and vs both e5 and e6] well.
I play Bg5 but I'm finding that theory has moved on a lot from 40 years ago when I was on top of it. Catching up there feels like a hopeless job. .
Bill
I wouldnt say 6.Be2 is a challenging line when it comes to tactical play and theory knowledge requirement. Compared to 6.Bc4 and 6.Bg5, 6.Be2 opts for a less risky more sound 6th move where white is often just a bit better and wins the d file.
AngryPuffer wrote:
SwimmerBill wrote:
blueemu wrote:
GardenMaster64 wrote:
@tygxc Actually my current repertoire was Be2 but I didnt find much sucess and it really grinded my gears. @lassus_dinnao I am quite curious to try grand prix attack thanks for helping.
Are you playing it correctly?
Whose games do you study as references for the 6. Be2 Najdorf? Karpov? Geller?
Agree. Be2 is a challenging line. Tim Taylor's book Slay the Sicilian explains how to play the resulting positions [based on Karpov's games and vs both e5 and e6] well.
I play Bg5 but I'm finding that theory has moved on a lot from 40 years ago when I was on top of it. Catching up there feels like a hopeless job. .
Bill
I wouldnt say 6.Be2 is a challenging line when it comes to tactical play and theory knowledge requirement. Compared to 6.Bc4 and 6.Bg5, 6.Be2 opts for a less risky more sound 6th move where white is often just a bit better and wins the d file.
Yes- in that sense it isn't. Meant: black has activity but when that peters out, black faces a long grinding defense where that computer says 0.0 but white's position is easy to play and blacks less easy.
Mar 13, 2024
0
#15
tygxc wrote:
I know what the Prins variation is.
In post #8 he recommended the "Prince" variation.
So I replied "Prins?"
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. g4 b5 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. g5 Nd7 13. f5 Bxg5+ 14. Kb1 Ne5
Stockfish shows +1.1 for White. (when you continue the line it's 0.7 on average)
Mar 13, 2024
0
#17
But Black doesn't have to play 13 ... Bxg5+. Black is doing okay with 13 ... 0-0. (Not to mention 7 ... Qb6 or 6. ... Nbd7).
I am struggling with Najdorf for quite sometime and with so many options I am unable to find a good variation against it. I really hate to play against Sicilian Defense but I just cant give up e4. At 2000 it is really painful to deal with please help.