Modern Najdorf Theory

Sort:
Closed_Account_1029384756

Can anyone recommend a book that focuses on the cutting edge of modern Najdorf theory on Be3, Bg5 and Bc4 (and other sidelines as well possibly).

I was trying to update my Be3 english attack theory and found that the main line I used to play as black doesn't seem to be the main line anymore and new white attempts are causing a headache for me (the 16.fxe6 and 17.cxb3 in particular seems quite annoying). I've been trying different move orders to try to avoid it or get fresh positions but not sure if they are any good. 

I've come to the conclusion that the 9...h5 line seems pretty good for black but white seems to be able to force a pretty drawish position if they want, so I was wondering if there is anything better, any advice or opening book choices would be much appreciated.

ThrillerFan

There should be no surprise that there exists a line that White can force a draw.

Anand once said (Paraphrasing, no Quoting):  "If White wants a draw, White has a draw!"

The fact that White goes first makes forcing a win almost impossible for Black if White doesn't want to fight.

 

As far as books, a lot depends on whether you are looking to play the White or Black side.  If Black, David Vigorito has a very in depth book from a couple of years ago:

Playing the Najdorf: A Practical Repertoire - David Vigorito (chess4less.com)

 

I know everyman published one in 2018.

 

Don't know how recent it is, but Bryan Smith published The Najdorf in Black and White.

 

There is one not that old that was written for White from Thinkers Publishing:  Beat the Najdorf & Taimanov Sicilians! - S.P. Sethuraman (chess4less.com)

 

Hope these help.

tlay80

I assuming you're looking for resources from Black's side.  Vigorito's book is good, and so is the Donkjnas Brothers book, both from around 2020, if memory serves.  The former is considerably more detailed, but I seem to remebmer some interesting novel ideas in the latter as well.  Some won't like Vigorito's unusual plan against 6. Bc4, which is to go e6 (normal) and then Nc6.

Smith's book, mentioned above, is a year or two earlier than those and, more to the point, far less detailed.  The thing I remember liking best about it was a very interesting Introduction surveying the early years of the variation. Not what you're looking for, but I found it interesting.

For the Bg5 lines, there's a really detailed set of two volumes that just came out, by Jarmula.  I haven't worked through it yet, but it looks like a helpful update to Negi's excellent White repertoire.  (Jarmula's isn't a repertoire -- it covers all the Bg5, lines from both sides.)

Also, two recent chessable courses.  I have Giri's good course, from two or three years ago, and I see that a new one just came out from Cheparinov.  I haven't gotten it yet, though I did get the free "short and sweet" version and hope to spend some time with it.

 

As for the Be3 lines, most recent sources -- Giri, Vigorito, Doknjas, Georgiev -- opt for the 8 ... h5 line (well, more precisely, Giri gives some reasons for delaying h5 until move 9, but it should transpose). I've gone that route too -- the old g4 b5 g5 b4 plan just seems too hard for anyone with a brain not made of silicon to survive.  MVL still plays it, but he's lost a few games in that line recently, and I wonder whether he too might give it up soon too.  Of course, in his case, people are actively preping against him, so maybe if your opponents aren't preparing for you specifically, you might be able to get by with it.  I decided my studying was better directed elsewhere.

The one recentish book I know that still covers it is Pavlovic's "Modernized Najdorf," for Thinkers Publishing.  I also notice that Cheparinov's Chessable course goes for Kasparov's old Ng4 line.  Shankland tried that in the last round of the US Championship -- the game where he was so annoyed at Dominguez for taking the infamous 7. Bc1 repetition -- and in the post-round interview, he hinted that he had some new ideas he was hoping to try out in that line.  So maybe there's some life in that one too.

tygxc

@1

"a book that focuses on the cutting edge of modern Najdorf theory" ++ The best book is... a data base. Cutting edge theory changes every day, so any book is obsolete while being printed.

"the main line I used to play as black doesn't seem to be the main line anymore" ++ Fashion!

"I've come to the conclusion that the 9...h5 line seems pretty good for black" ++ Yes.

"white seems to be able to force a pretty drawish position if they want" ++ So what?