Najdorf structure
The Sicilian Najdorf pawn setup after ...a6 and ...e5, with Black pawns on a6, d6 and e5 against White's e4, which gives Black a firm grip on d4 but leaves a hole on d5 and a backward d6 pawn.
The Najdorf proper is defined by 5...a6; this entry covers its ...e5 form, while ...e6 lines lead to Scheveningen-type positions instead. White usually answers ...e5 with Nb3 or Nf3, leaving the d4 square under Black's control and the d5 square in White's. Black's d6 pawn is on a half-open file, and ...a6 keeps a knight or bishop off b5 while preparing ...b5.
Black's plans revolve around ...Be7, ...O-O, ...b5, and the central break ...d5. The bishop on e6 contests d5, while the knight on d7 and queen on c7 support ...b5. The ...d5 break is often White's biggest worry.
White's plans depend on the setup. With Be3, f3 and Qd2 the attack starts with g4 and g5. With Be2 and castling, White plays quietly for d5, often trading off the pieces that guard it, the e6 bishop or the f6 knight, to land a piece there.
Common errors for Black are castling into a kingside attack when it is not yet safe, and delaying the central break so long that White wins the d5 square. For White, the common error is overpressing before the pieces are ready. Tip: whoever controls d5 usually has the better version of the structure.
A neighboring idea is Dragon structure. The Sicilian setup where Black plays ...g6 and ...Bg7 with pawns on d6 and e7, aiming the bishop down the long diagonal while White often castles queenside and attacks with h4-h5.
Compare it with Hedgehog structure. The Hedgehog structure is a crouched Black formation with pawns on a6, b6, d6 and e6 facing a White clamp on c4 and e4, giving up space for now in return for well-timed ...b5 and ...d5 counterblows.
Compare it with Open Sicilian. The Open Sicilian is the family of Sicilian Defense lines in which White plays d4 and exchanges the d-pawn for Black's c-pawn, opening the center and leading to unbalanced play.
Opening ideas such as "Najdorf structure" are easier to keep when they are tested on your own games, which is what a first lesson with George Li begins with.
Related terms
A weak square, also called a hole, is a square that a player's own pawns can no longer guard, so an enemy piece can settle there without being challenged by a pawn.
An outpost is an advanced square, usually in the opponent's half of the board, that is protected by one of your own pawns and cannot be attacked by an enemy pawn.
A backward pawn is a pawn that has fallen behind the pawns on neighboring files and cannot safely advance, because the square in front of it is controlled by an enemy pawn.
A pawn break is a pawn move that makes contact with an enemy pawn or chain, forcing an exchange that changes the structure and gives your pieces new files or diagonals to use.
The Open Sicilian is the family of Sicilian Defense lines in which White plays d4 and exchanges the d-pawn for Black's c-pawn, opening the center and leading to unbalanced play.
The Sicilian setup where Black plays ...g6 and ...Bg7 with pawns on d6 and e7, aiming the bishop down the long diagonal while White often castles queenside and attacks with h4-h5.
Openings where it occurs
Guides that go further
Most popular chess openings and win rates
The most played openings, how often White wins, and how the numbers change with rating, computed from public games.
What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid.
A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li.
Want to spot this in your own games?
A first lesson starts with your games: George reviews them and builds a study plan around what he finds.