White might even claim a slight advantage in this line.
White will continue with d4 and he is slightly better I think.
Why isn't this move played more often?
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I love this and play it everytime, I kinda assumed it was the best practise. I like to play a6 before d5 to stop my opponent moving the bishop to g5 and thereby keeping the tempo, also a6 can assist in trapping your opponent's bishop if they are particuarly inattentive...
I have played the same move many times ..... 3...d5 and my database does not show it to be played even once in 2200+ games. Even I am confused now. My guess is that Pawn at d5 and c5 become weaknesses after the exchange..
May 1, 2014
0
#5
In the Chessbase online database, 3...d5 is listed in 274 games with a 26.1% score for White. I don't see anything wrong with it. The play is very similar to a French Exchange. The only drawback I see is that the position has been simplified some and I feel like this lets White off a little easy.
My personal preference is for 3...a6. I analyzed this continuation for Black in this thread: http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-analysis/sicilian-najdorf?lc=1#last_comment
I really don't get why so many of my opponent play the bowlder attack in the opening. But, if I'm black, here is how I defend it:
Why is d5 only played one time in the book database? The most popular move is d6, which I find to be inferior, but it has been played 224 times. Why isn't d5 played more often?