Blah, blah, blah...

if 3.e5? Nc6 4.Bb5 Bd7 5.exd6 exd6 and black controls the centre.

What happens if white plays 3. e5 What would you play now?

To whom are u asking this? richard? And what in the blaze, is LSB??? After 2... Nf6 (Nimzowitsch) 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 Nxc3 5. xc3 d5, the Rubinstein counter-gambit... See also bit.ly

Depending on who you talk to this invites the very sharp Keres attack with g4 and f4

You can't say that 4...g6 is better than 4...Nf6. 4...g4 5.c4 and white has a strong center.

4. ... g6 is better here... *edit* 4... g4? Can black play that? *edit* 4. g4... 5. c4... Isn't that two moves for white? Is that regular?

Wow! Where do you get this? 5. ... g6 is still better, as Fischer learned us... 5... a6, as a profylaxe, is weak and loses tempo... a6 should be reserved for cases, where white occupies b5... *edit* BTW, Fischer never played the Najdorf. He played 2. ... g6... *edit* OK, so I was wrong, Fischer did play the Najdorf... Did he win?

Fischer himself played the sicilian najdorf, so how can 5...a6 is a mistake? *****EDIT***** Fischer never played the najdorf???? Take this link. www.chessgames.com

Fischer won a lot.

The main line is 6.Bg5, while 6.Be3 is the English (Byrne) attack. Right?

How could richard know about Nick de Firmian's quote? Unless he has MCO 15 himself..

The main line is 6.Be3. Check the World data base. 6.Bg5 is third behind 6.Be3 and 6.Be2. Years ago 6.Bg5 was the main line, but it hasn't been for some time. Nick de Firmian in MCO 15 states: "6. Be3 has become clearly the main line due to the popularity of the English Attack." 1st EDIT Richard wrote: "Just because it is the most popular line, doesn't mean it is the main line. Tee main line and every variation will stay the same." You are very confused, main line means the most popular line at the master level. The main line of a variation is not etched in stone but can change over the course of time. Do you really think you are more of an authority than Nick de Firmian? 2nd EDIT l-d-j wrote "How could richard know about Nick de Firmian's quote? Unless he has MCO 15 himself." My original post contained the Nick de Firmian quote and was made before richard posted his comment. Since Richard's comment was directed at mine I assumed that Richard had read mine (a dangerous assumption to make). When you edit a post the edited post appears at the bottom of the space.

6. Be3 is the English ( Byrne) attack 6. Be2 is the Opovcensky variation 6. Bc4 is called the Lipnitsky attack 6. f4 is called the Najdorf 6.f4 6. h3 is the Adam attack. 6. g3 is the Zagreb (finachetto) variation Just because it is the most popular line, doesn't mean it is the main line. Tee main line and every variation will stay the same. No I don't have MCO and I don't know who Nick de Firmian is. The main line is the most popular variation but it was already established many years ago. Since Najdorf is the most popular why don't they call it the main line or call the Yugoslav attack the main line? What he means by the main line is the line most people play. The original meaning of " Main line" was the line that was analysed and developed by the creator of the opening/defense.

Blah, blah, blah... I would prefer 6. Bc4...

Again Nbd7 is playable although e6 is probably slightly preferable.

6...e6 is a blunder?? Explain why. I completely disagree.

For now, richard is right, e6 is a minor blunder... *edit* because Nbd7 is better...

In the line you mentioned, the game is even.

White loses his edge... After 7. ... Be7 8. Qf3 h6 9. Bh4 Qc7, white proves nothing... *edit* I agree... now, black is losing...

This variation was considered dubious for black until the ^ Sixties, when Fischer showed that black had plenty of resources. These days it is over-analyzed.

I agree with you hityerclock, this variation is over-analysed. However, it is still very complicated and difficult to say who has the advantage. To vonbonkisback, kasparov and fischer played this losing move.

In fact, this is a losing move... Be7 was best... *edit* So that makes it winning?

My guess is, Qxb2 loses... Right? Of course, white has to play Nb3... This is a drawish forcing, for white..

Apart from Qxb2, that is... Black could still play Nbd7...

e6 is generally an extremely weak square in the Najdorf with a Schvenigan pawn structure. Usually white can crush black with a knight sac on e6 in the schvenigan.

If 10. f5 b5 is more playable, why don't you play it then? 10. Be2 is better then the text...

The GK computer doesn't understand this position. Ne4 is really the only move that allows white a chance for an advantage. 12.Bc4 Qa5 13.O-O Nxe5 is good for black, for example 14.Nb3 Qb6+ 15.Be3 Nxc4, or 14.Be2 Nbc6 13.Nb3 Qc7, or 14.Bb3 Bc5 15.Kh1 O-O 16.Bf4 Ng6, or 14.Rbe1 Nxc4 15.Qf4 Nd6 16.Ne4 Qc7. Black will consolidate his position and keep the extra material.

Blah, blah, blah...

But with aggressive attacks and way ahead in development.

Black was most likely better to play 12. ...h6

12...h6 13.Bf4 and white will still have the advantage.

Black is playing with fire. He can't neglect his development this long.

I guess this is why the they call it the poisoned pawn variation. It is hard to say what black should do here but Kasparov said that 13. ..Qd5 the best for black to play. Also 14. ...Qxe5 is standard

Safer for black, is 13. ... h6 14. Bf4 Qa4... A computer doesn't understand this...

Yes, 16...Nxd4? is a mistake, but black still has a draw after 17...Bc5! right? That is why i said 17...h6?? is the losing move.

The GK computer doesn't know what is going on here. Black is close to being lost after Nxd4? let alone h6. ***** EDIT ***** after the suggested 17...Bc5! 18.Nxc5 Qxe3+ 19.Bxe3 Nxc5 20.Rg4 Nd7 21.Rxg7 I don't see a forced draw for black. White has a strong initiative with Bh5, Rd1, etc. plus the bishop pair is looking scary. Black will have to fight for any drawing chances; I certainly wouldn't be happy playing the black side of this.

Blah, blah, blah... 15. ... Bc5 16. Bf4 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Qa5+... 17. ... Bc5 is also sufficient, in stead of h6... White escapes here...

Good thinking, Paul... Only a little late...