English Attack 6.Be3 e5 is variation 1 of 5 in the Sicilian Najdorf course, a advanced opening course for Black (ECO B90). It runs 26 moves and begins 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 …. White plays Be3, f3, Qd2, O-O-O and storms with g4-g5. Black answers with ...e5, ...Be6 and a fast queenside pawn storm with ...b5-b4. Both kings are attacked, so every tempo counts. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. e4 – White takes the centre and opens lines for the queen and the light-squared bishop.
1... c5 – The Sicilian: Black fights for d4 from the side and creates an unbalanced position.
2. Nf3 – Develops and prepares d4 to open the centre.
2... d6 – Controls e5 and opens the diagonal for the c8 bishop; it is the Najdorf move order.
3. d4 – White opens the centre to use the lead in development.
3... cxd4 – Black trades a wing pawn for a centre pawn and gets the half-open c-file.
4. Nxd4 – White recaptures with a centralised knight.
4... Nf6 – Develops with tempo by attacking the e4 pawn, forcing Nc3.
5. Nc3 – Defends e4 and develops another piece.
5... a6 – The Najdorf move: it takes b5 from White's knights and bishop and prepares ...e5 or ...b5.
6. Be3 – The English Attack: the bishop guards d4 and b6 and White plans f3, Qd2, O-O-O and g4.
6... e5 – Black gains time by kicking the d4 knight and grabs space in the centre, accepting a hole on d5.
7. Nb3 – The knight retreats to b3, where it supports a later a4 or Na5 and stays out of ...exd4 tricks.
7... Be6 – The bishop takes the key d5 square under control and prepares ...Nbd7 and ...Be7.
8. f3 – Supports e4, stops ...Ng4 hitting the e3 bishop, and prepares g4.
8... Be7 – Develops the dark-squared bishop and prepares to castle short.
The lesson goes on for 10 more moves, each with its explanation.
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