Chessreads
Chess Opening Books
Published: March 23, 2026
Video Description
In this video we cover the Opocensky Variationa gainst the Najdorf Sicilian. The second most popular move against the Najdorf Sicilian.
Download the annotated Sicilian repertoires: https://www.patreon.com/posts/sicilian-defense-152926119?
Here is what I use to learn openings: https://chessbook.com/hanging-pawns
Books on the Sicilian Defense: https://chessreads.com/sicilian-defense
Practice the Sicilian repertoire for black: https://go.noctie.ai/sicilian-black
Learn the basics of the Sicilian: https://youtu.be/UQlQjco7Mc8
The Opocensky Variation, the move Be2, is a very flexible, non-forcing weapon against the Najdorf. It gives white the option to play many different strategic ideas, and, as opposed to the more aggressive variations, it's deceptively simple. It requires both sides to be precise and know exact move orders though. It's by no means a simple opening for Black to face.
The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defense (B90 - B99) is one of the sharpest, most heavily analyzed and most fun openings in all of chess. It can lead to completely mental positions which not many humans can completely understand. White has 11 (!) different ways of fighting the Najdorf and I will cover each in a separate video.
0:00 Introduction to the move Opocensky Variation
03:16 Strategy and basics of the Opocensky Variation
19:12 Theory of the Opocensky Variation