sicilian najdorf

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I'm trying to understand the sicilian najdorf a little more and having trouble with a concept.  Is one of the goals for black to make a push with to d5 or e5?  pushing e5 seems to leave a backward pawn on d6 but if you can successfully push d5 you have a solid pawn structure and what appears to be a relatively equal position.

Your question goes to the heart of the matter in the Sicilian Najdorf.  The thematic square in this opening is "d5".  Even the move 5...a6 is an indirect defense of the square d5.  With the Sicilian Najdorf, Black with his first move begins contesting White for the initiative (the attack).  In addition Black is doing so in an unbalanced dynamic asymmetric pawn position which makes for games where both sides are striving for winning plans of attack on different sides of the board.

Maybe you haven't noticed that after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4, Black after only 4 moves in the opening has established a 2 vs. 1 pawn majority in the center (Black pawns at d6, and e7 vs, White pawn at e4).  This is an advantage throughout the game, and becomes a winning advantage in the endgame.  Your observation, "pushing e5 seems to leave a backward pawn d6" is correct.  There is an exception.  When White chooses to play 6.Be2 Black can choose to play either 6...e6 or 6...e5.  The reason being that White has chosen a non-committal move like 6.Be2 in order to not tip his hand to Black as to what plan of attack he will be selecting.  The main reason is that White has not chosen to place his LSB on c4 attacking f7.  It is best to place the Black pawn on e6 in order to have the White B biting on granite along the a2-g8 diagonal.

It is my opinion that it is best to stick with 6...e6. 

I am not ignoring your comment, "but if you can successfully push d5 you have a solid pawn structure and what appears to be a relatively equal position."  Instead I am advising you that creating the liberation pawn break move ...d5 is a move that Black does not want to make prematurely or too late.  Because of all the prophylactic move measures that White is using to restrain the move ...d5 it is wise to make very careful preparations for the eventual ...d5  or it's cancellation because it is damaging to Black's position.

 If White makes it impossible to execute the move ...d5, then there is an alternative by initiating a series of exchanges on the square d5 which end with a White pawn occupying the d5 square which makes it essentially useless to White.

After Black has executed the move 6...e6 a bulwark of defense for the Black K in the center of the board is formed.  The formation is d6, e6, f7.  If it proves impossible or contraindicated to castle for Black the bulwark of defense will keep the Black K safe in the center.

In the below position, Black can either push d5 or e5 successfully, the problem is you still aren't allowing the bishop to develop but if you can get the d5 push in it seems good for black.  Am I wrong?

Now we can discuss the problem of developing Black's LSB.  With the 6...e6 preference the Black LSB is developed with  ...b5 and ...Bb7.  Then there are some tactical issues on the squares b5, b6, c3, d5, e6, and f5.  In addition the stronger an opponent you face the more cunning the anti-Sicilians and transpositions become.

Finally there is the Sicilian Najdorf Zagreb variation.  It is a Russian plan of attack which you need to look into.

Also avoiding the Keres Attack g4 is accomplished by playing the Najdorf Scheveningen Style.  But there is still the Perenyi Attack (Keres Attack's little brother).  However its sting will be considerably dulled because of the move order change that was originally designed to avoid the Keres Attack.