Usual Plans

Question 1

Sicilian Defence - Najdorf Variation 6.Be3 e6

Answer 1

White’s plan

English Attack Setup: Be3, f3, Qd2, O-O-O, Bf1
Plans: 
- pawn storm g2-g4-g5, h5
- open h(g?)-file when/if appropriate
- Prophylactic Kb1

Question 2

Sicilian Defence - Najdorf Variation 6.Be3 e5 7. Nf3

Answer 2

White’s plan

• Control the d5-square
• Place knight on d5
• Play Bc4 before Qd2 so that Black can’t play Be6 to prervent it
• Exchange dark-squared bishop for the Knight on f3 to go into good knight vs bad bishop position

Question 3

Sicilian Defence - Accelerated Dragon

Answer 3

• Black delays d6 to be able to play d7-d5 in one go and save time
• White mustn’t play f3 before Black plays d6 because of the tactics resulting from Qb6
• White 7. Bc4! … 8. Bb3! to prevent d5 and Qb6 attacking b2-pawn and threatening Nxe4
• Usually transposes into normal Dragon Variation, with English Attack for White: Be3, Qd2, O-O-O, Bf1, pawn storm, prophylactic Kb1 (delayed f3, only after d6)

Question 4

Philidor Defence - 4 …exd4

Answer 4

White’s plan

• 6. Bf4! is very important because it prevents d5 and there is no Ng4 from Black to harass the bishop. This is possible because Black’s pawn on e-file is not there (unlike in Sicilian)
• Develop queenside first, to be able to O-O-O
• Attack setup (similar to English, but with Bf4 instead of Be3): Bf4, Qd2, O-O-O, g2-g4-g5, h5
• Nd5 at some point