The Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Accepted is a variation of the Sicilian Defense, catalogued as ECO B97. The line runs 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3, reaching the position shown below after 18 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. White is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to Black's one, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move after nine moves. White’s a- and c-files pawns are isolated.
On the Sicilian Defense generally: The most popular and aggressive response to 1.e4. Black fights for the center asymmetrically, leading to rich tactical play.
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The Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Accepted goes 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3. It is a variation of the Sicilian Defense and is catalogued as ECO B97.
The Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Accepted is ECO B97. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Sicilian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 9. Rb1 Qa3 at +0.28 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. White is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to Black's one, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is White to move. White’s a- and c-files pawns are isolated.