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Sicilian Najdorf variation - Why do we play Nf6 before a6?

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Avatar of Deranged
Deranged
Jan 14, 2019
0
#1

I've never understood why we play this:

Instead of this:

Can anyone please explain this to me?

Avatar of IMKeto
IMKeto
Jan 14, 2019
0
#2

I don't play it, but it would seem that if you play 4...a6 first, it allows white to play 5.c4.  And since part of the idea with black is to play a queenside minority attack.  Whites pawn on c4 makes that a little bit more difficult.

 

 

Avatar of TwoMove
TwoMove
Jan 16, 2019
0
#3

Yep that's right is the first basic decision in open sicilian, whether allow white to play c4 or not. In e6 sicilians it mostly decides whether want to play early 4...Nc6 (Taimanov) preventing most c4 lines, or other e6 lines allowing  effective c4 by white.