NajdorfType I

The structure studied in this chapter is typical of many Open Sicilians. It arises after White trades pieces on d5, and recaptures with the e-pawn. This frequently occurs in the Najdorf variation, but I should emphasize it is not limited to this variation. For example, we can obtain this structure after the sequence l.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 d4 4.4 f6 5.c3 e5 6.b5 d6 7.d5 d5 8.d5. This structure deserves careful study as the recapture exd5 dramatically changes the character of the game. Even players of the highest level transform their position with this recapture without properly assessing their chances in the resulting position. This structure provides a natural imbalance and offers interesting chances to both sides. The main plans are:

White's plans :

1. Advance the queenside majority with b2-b4 and c2-c4-c5.

2. On some occasions, after Black has played ... f7-f5, it is also possible to place a bishop along the bl-h7 diagonal and play g2-g4 breaking up Black's structure. This plan is rare, but when it works it does so spectacularly well.

Black's plans :

1. Expand on the kingside with ... f7-f5 and develop a kingside attack.

2. Restrict or undermine White's queenside expansion with a potential ... b7-b5.

Bad bishops :

A recurring theme in these positions is the fight between White's light-squared bishop and Black's dark-squared bishop. Both of these bishops are considered bad according to classical strategic theory, as they run on the same colour as their respective most-advanced pawns (on d5 for White, e5 for Black) . As we will learn in this chapter, Black's dark-squared bishop is not bad at all, while White's bishop is often restricted and even useless in some positions. This is a rule to be remembered. General strategy books would nor teach us this rule, but we should remember it as an essential strategic element in this particular structure .

The first game in this chapter is the relatively well-known game Grischuk - Zhang Zhong from 2001, in which White carries out a powerful queenside expansion to create a winning passed pawn. Later Zhang Zhong manages to create illustrative kingside counterplay which emphasizes Black's many attacking possibilities.

The second game is an example of White's queenside expansion, followed by a strong kingside break with g2-g4. The third game is one from my own experience: a race between Black's kingside attack and White's passed central pawns. The last two games illustrate Black's plans in the fight between the bishops. The first of these examples is a positional treatment, while the second is a sharp tactical approach, both yielding convincing victories to Black.