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Sicilian: Najdorf, 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3: what should White play?
Best move
f3+0.33
By playing f3, you solidify your center and create a rock-solid chain to protect the e4 pawn. This move is the hallmark of the English Attack, preparing to launch a kingside pawn…
- Games played
- 374K
- To move
- White
- Evaluation
- +0.33
- Depth
- 25
Game counts: Lichess opening book. Move ranking and evaluation: Stockfish. How this page is built
Why f3 is the best move
f3! — Excellent Choice!
✅ One of 3 top moves — you found a winning strategy!
Why this move is excellent:
By playing f3, you solidify your center and create a rock-solid chain to protect the e4 pawn. This move is the hallmark of the English Attack, preparing to launch a kingside pawn storm while restricting the black f6 from jumping into g4.
Multiple Valid Strategies
| Move | Eval | Style / Strategic Idea |
|---|---|---|
| f3 | +0.33 | Aggressive: Prepares Qd2 and a kingside expansion. |
| h3 | +0.21 | Prophylactic: Prevents g4 jumps while keeping options open. |
| Be2 | +0.21 | Classical: Focuses on rapid development and kingside castling. |
Different paths, same destination: While f3 is the most popular choice (found by 50% of players), all three moves maintain White's slight opening advantage. You chose the most ambitious path, signaling your intent to fight for the initiative on the kingside rather than just developing pieces passively with Be2.
Your Continuation
After f3:
Be6 Qd2 h5 Nd5
What Made This Move Good
You correctly saw: The need to over-protect e4 and blunt the diagonal of the e7. By placing a pawn on f3, you make it very difficult for Black to create counterplay in the center, allowing you to focus on your own setup with Qd2 and long castling.
📚 Takeaway: In the Sicilian Najdorf, f3 is a high-level positional tool that serves as both a shield and a springboard for attack!
What else gets played here
Move choices from 374K games in the opening book, with the engine's evaluation of each.
| Move | Evaluation | Played | Games | White score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| f3Engine pick | +0.33 | 274K | 52% | |
| Be2 | +0.21 | 86K | 50% | |
| h3 | +0.21 | 14K | 57% | |
| Qd3 | +0.11 | 0 | — | |
| Nd2 | +0.05 | 0 | — |
More positions in the Sicilian
- Best moveQe3Queen d4 → e3Sicilian, Chekhover, 4...Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7956K games
- Best moveQd2Queen d6 → d2Sicilian: Loewenthal, 5...a6565K games
- Best moveQc7Queen d8 → c7Sicilian: Scheveningen, Classical, 7.Be3511K games
- Best moveNf3Knight g1 → f3Sicilian: Alapin, 2...d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 e6355K games
- Best movef4Pawn f2 → f4Sicilian: Scheveningen, Classical, 7.Be3223K games
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move for White in the Sicilian: Najdorf, 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3?
f3 (+0.33). By playing f3, you solidify your center and create a rock-solid chain to protect the e4 pawn. This move is the hallmark of the English Attack, preparing to launch a kingside pawn…
Why is f3 the best move here?
By playing f3, you solidify your center and create a rock-solid chain to protect the e4 pawn. This move is the hallmark of the English Attack, preparing to launch a kingside pawn storm while restricting the black f6 from jumping into g4.
How often does this position occur?
This position has been reached 374K times in the opening book.