B96 Sicilian Defence: Najdorf

ECO code B96 covers the Najdorf Sicilian with 6.Bg5, reached by 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4. It excludes the branches with ...Qb6 and ...Be7, which have their own codes. White pins the f6-knight and pushes the f-pawn to prepare e5 or f5, usually followed by Qf3 and long castling. Black's alternatives here include 7...h6, which puts the question to the bishop and is met by 8.Bh4. Another is 7...Nbd7, which keeps the position flexible and adds support to the e5 square before Black chooses a plan.