opening selection with black

Hey all...need a lil suggestion from u guys...i am a najdorf player with the black pieces and i have put in a huge amount of effort to understand each of the variation that i could be exposed to....my score has been good with the najdorf against players upto 2200 level(have not tested it against better ones yet)....now i have a tournament coming up in the next 50 days but i struggle when white plays anti sicilian like rosalimo/grandprix/alapin etc....most of the players are avoiding sicilian open lines these days and considering the fact that i have put in so much effort on najdorf how should i prepare for the anti sicilians..

would you recommend me to prepare anti sicilian in the next 50 days or should i pick up some other opening which is easy to learn given the fact that i have a time constraint of 50 days....i am considering petroff as it is somehwhat easier to play....

thanks in advance...

Maybe you should switch to the french........

You can avoid rosalimo by playing 2...d6 instead of 2....Nc6

I would stay with the Najdorf and learn the anti lines. This for 2 reasons:

1) If you understand and like the dynamics of an opening like the najdorf you probably will dislike the petroff. The symmetrical structures will not be to your liking and you will play them worse.

2) The anti lines are called anti for a reason. They are not the best options for white and black should be able to equalize. Also in many of these lines your knowledge of typical najdorf play will be more usefull.

The Najdorf requires being familiar with a vast range of pawn formations and strategies, which is surely enough not suitable for a player of your level (I will not comment at all on anti-sicilians).

I dont think there is a way to avoid anti siclian lines.

several anti siclians are respectable openings (just ask Gelfand)

Bb5

Work on the grandprix and closed siclians with most 40% of your time invested in the grandprix. and 40% on the Bb5.  players like to use it as a pattern attack and its probably the most common after the Bb5 lines. you need to have something in your repertiore to face them anyway and its easier than trying to learn a whole new structure. 

its not that hard to do and there is some good information out there on how to deal with it. 

How did u know my level pfren..

He is psychic.  Not like the ones on TV commercials.  He doesn't need a 1(800) number.  He is a true psychic, he doesn't need a phone.

Thanks moonnie and tony....ur comments were really helpful...il continue my work on the anti sicilian rather tha goin for a whole new opening...

pfren and echecs english seems to be very tricky for human beings of ur level....pls understand the question, it was not whether or not i shud play the najdorf.....my question was strictly about the anti sicilian....

http://dictionary.reference.com/ here is the link for dictionary.com for simplying ur experience of understanding english..hopw u will learn the language soon to be on the same page...

The first book referred to by Beachdude67 is titled "The Complete Najdorf:  Modern Lines", by John Nunn and Joe Gallagher.  The companion book referred to by shepi13 is, "The Complete Najdorf:  6.Bg5", by John Nunn.  The 3rd book referred to by Beachdud67 is, "Starting Out:  Sicilian Najdorf", by Richard Palliser.  There are other books on the Scheveningen and the Najdorf/Scheveningen.  I own about 15 books on the Siciliaan Najdorf, the Scheveningen, and the Najdorf/Scheveningen.  If you would like to know all the titles and authors please let me know.

All of these posts indicate that they are excellent books but extremely complicated.  I would agree with them, if they were right.

What you need to begin with is the right perspectve.  What I mean by that is that you first have to be aware that there are 2 opening theories of chess:

1. Classical Chess Opening Theory:  Control the center by occupying it with your pawns and pieces.

2. Hypermodern Chess Opening Theory:  Control the center by using the power of your pawns and pieces to control the center.  With this method you do not create targets in the center for your opponent to attack.

Just to be clear the central squares (the center) are 4 (e4, d4, e5, d5.)

The Sicilian Najdorf is an opening that features a battle for the control of the center, with White employing the Classical Chess Opening Theory, and Black employing the Hypermodern Chess Opening Theory.  It is very simple to see this within the first 6 moves of the game, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6. From this point forward until the end of the paragraph we will writing about control of the central squares and some squares that are adjacent to the central squares.  Notice that White is occupying central squares, d4 with his N and e4 with his Kp.  By contrast Black has no pawns or pieces on the central squares. However, Black has pawns at d6(controls e5 and c5) togehter with the N at f6 that adds additional control to d5 and fights for control of e4, also the B at f8 adds additional control at the square c5; e6 (controls d5 and f5),a N at f6 (controls d5 and e4), B at c8 [controls f5 together with pawn at e6 (pawn and B aim at f5.]   Black is controlling central squares, but what is different is that he is controlling the central squares with the power of his pawns and pieces.  His pawns and pieces are not targets on the central squares for White to attack.  In order to attack Black's pawns and pieces White has to go after them he has to attack on the squares that they are on.  In other words, White has to divert his pawns and pieces attention away from the central squares and onto squares that are peripheral to the central squares.  In addition White has tactical shots that are potential at key squares that every Black player knows about.  The squares where White has a chance to do tactical shots only if Black allows it are e6, d5, e5, f5 and f7.  The tactical shots are well known because thousands of games have been played at the IM and GM level with examples of these tactical shots.  Also, books on the Sicilian Najdorf point out these tactical possibilities and the squares that they occur on.

The most important aspect of the Sicilian Najdorf position after move 6 is the fact that Black has a 2 vs. 1 pawn advantage on the d and e files, in the center.  This is a static advanage that will endure in to the endgame.  It is and advantage that gives Black a winning endgame. In addition in combination with the pawn at f7, the pawns at d6, e6, and f7 form what is called a "small but secure center."   It will withstand just about any onslaught that White can throw at it.  And, that is true whether Black castles Kingside or not.  In other words, in many variations the Black King is jus as safe in the center as he would be if he castled Kingside. 

The second important aspect of the Sicilian Najdorf position is the square d5.  It is thematic for the Najdorf. White struggling and using the advantage of his half-open d file to secure the placement of his N at c3 on d5.  Black struggling to prevent the placement of any piece on d5.  A compromise is sometimes White can place a pawn at d5.  That is ok with Black.  The most important trump card that Black has in that struggle for the d5 square is his half-open c file.  It is a tremendous weapon in order to thwart White's attempts at placing his N at d5.  Another thematic aspect of this opening is Black's move d5.  It is the signal pawn break for Black.  When the move d5 is made, Black has determined that it is the right time to liberate his game and take complete control of the center.  Another important trump card is Black being able to post his N at b8 on c5 that in conjunction with the Black's half-open c file.    

 Your move 4...Nc6 is the Open Sicilian Variation.  Believe me if White knows what he is doing, he will not play Nxc6 unless it is advanageous to him.   The N at b8 should remain on that square until White has made some commital moves.  One of the those commital moves is Bg5, then in most cases the N's best square is d7 (Nbd7.)  There are some dangers of a tactical shot by White at e6, but only when his light squared B is at c4 or b3   

 You  just need to be aware that you are playing Black Hypermodern style. 

The answer to your question:

would you recommend me to prepare anti sicilian in the next 50 days or should i pick up some other opening which is easy to learn given the fact that i have a time constraint of 50 days....i am considering petroff as it is somehwhat easier to play....

What other openings do you know, are part of your repertoire?

Do you know the Caro-Kann?