Najdorf Variation, Lipnitsky Attack

With 6. Bc4, also known as the Sozin or Fischer-Sozin Attack, White puts the bishop on its most aggressive diagonal against f7 and plays for maximum piece activity, often with a fast f4-f5 to open the black king. The idea came from Sozin's use of the move against the Classical Sicilian. Fischer built much of its theory, and it was once White's principal try against the Najdorf. Black then found reliable ways to equalize, and the English Attack took over as the main line, but newer systems have restored its practical value.

Black almost always closes the diagonal with 6...e6. The alternatives 6...e5 and 6...b5 are far less common, and 6...b5 scores worse for Black. White usually tucks the bishop away with 7. Bb3, anticipating ...b5. Castling kingside and advancing the f-pawn is the classical plan, now often strengthened by Qf3-Qg3. Plans with queenside castling are sharper and include piece sacrifices on e6, as in 6...e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. Be3 Be7 9. Qf3 Qc7 10. g4 b4 11. Nce2. The Velimirović Attack combines Bb3, Be3, Qe2 and O-O-O with Rg1 and g4. A quieter option is 7. a4, which stops ...b5. The engine rates the position as balanced.