Chess Openings Lab
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Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack

The English Attack is 6.Be3, developing the dark-squared bishop and preparing f3, Qd2 and long castling. White aims for a g4 and g5 pawn storm, while Black can choose ...e5, ...Ng4 or ...e6 and counter with ...b5 on the queenside.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3
ECO
B90
Engine
+0.21 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,864 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play f3, Qd2 and long castling, then push g4 and g5 against Black's king.
  • After ...e5 Nb3, keep a grip on d5 and aim a knight there when possible.
  • Answer ...Ng4 with Bg5, keeping the bishop active and avoiding the trade.
  • Use h4 or g4 to open files on the kingside for the rooks.

Black

  • 6...e5 kicks the knight; after Nb3, ...Be6 and ...Be7 develop quickly.
  • ...Ng4 attacks the e3 bishop and forces White to decide before f3.
  • Use ...b5 and a bishop on b7 to expand on the queenside and target e4.
  • ...h5 is a useful brake on g4, as the engine line shows.

Plans and pawn structure

White's English Attack setup with Be3, f3, Qd2 and long castling leads to opposite-side castling races. White pushes g4 and g5 to open lines, while Black expands with ...b5 and ...b4 or pushes ...d5 to break the center. After ...e5, the d5 square becomes a key target for White's knights, and Black often uses ...Be6 to contest it. Speed is everything: whoever opens lines first usually wins.

Where the engine's main line heads: Open Sicilian with ...e5: a hole on d5, a backward d6 pawn. An Open Sicilian with ...e5: Black has the center but leaves a hole on d5 and a backward pawn on d6.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.21: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.21 6...e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2 Be7 9.f3
  2. +0.23 6...Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3
  3. +0.47 6...Qc7 7.Be2 e6 8.g4 h6 9.a3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,864 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.8%.

1200–159948.7%
1600–199952.9%
2000 and up53.3%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, choose ...e5 with ...Be6 or ...e6 with ...b5, and start queenside play quickly. Avoid slow moves that let White push g4 and g5 freely. Consider ...h5 to slow White's pawn storm.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3; 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.f3; 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.h3.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack?

The Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3. Its ECO code is B90.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.21 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,864 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.8%. A popular attacking choice for White players who like pawn storms, while Black needs fast counterplay on the queenside.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack?

White develops with Be3, f3 and Qd2 to castle long and attack with g4 and g5. Black counters with ...e5 or ...e6 and pushes ...b5 for queenside play.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is e5, with Ng4 and Qc7 close behind. 6...e5 kicks the knight and fights for d5 before White's pieces are set.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.