CHESS

‘The Najdorf. The very name is enough to fill 1 e4 players with fear, for this is the most uncompromising, yet sound, variations in the whole spectrum of chess openings’. Thus spake grandmaster Daniel King in his book ‘Winning with the Najdorf’. The list of devotees who play this variation is lengthy but would be headed by both Fischer and Kasparov who honed it into a devastating weapon. Miguel Najdorf popularised the opening that begins 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 with the original idea being to answer 6 Be2 with 6…e5 and thus avoid the annoying Bb5+. While playing such an uncompromising system can yield many wins for Black, such is the nature of this doubleedged line that the smallest inaccuracy can lead to a devastating defeat. Here are two games that demonstrate the ideal scenarios for both Black and White. Ermenkov,Evgenij (2495) - Portisch,Lajos (2655) [B86] EU-chT (Men) Skara (3), 1980

(Although popular in the 1950s and 60s this move is now deemed too slow)…Be7 8.Ba2 0–0 9.f4 b5 10.f5 e5 11.Nde2 Bb7 12.Ng3 Nbd7 13.Bg5 Rc8 14.0–0 Rxc3! (This thematic exchange sacrifice is even given the nod from our more materialist silicon friends) (A wonderful move. White is getting hit with everything-D King) (18…Kh7 had to be played to avoid the coming onslaught)