Answers.Body: <p>e5 is bad against the Fischer-sozin variation, because of 7. Nf5, which puts pressure on the d6 weakness.</p>
  
  <p>Now granted, you could play Nf5 whenever black plays e5, whether you're playing Be2 (the classical system), or Be3 (the english attack).</p>
  
  <p>So the real question is, what's the difference between:
  e5 in the Sozin variation, and
  e5 in the classical variation, f4 variation, english attack, etc. anything but Bc4 and Bg5.</p>
  
  <p>The difference is, after white plays Nf5 in the classical variation, black has this amazing resource which is 7...d5.</p>
  
  <p>If black plays e5 against the Sozin variation, 7. Nf5, d5 doesn't work because the pawn is capturable.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qjcVI.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qjcVI.png" alt="You see why black can&#39;t play d5? And if black goes Bxf5 (which is likely the best move) then well, white gains the bishop pair and the light squared bisohp was probably black&#39;s strong bishop, because the pawns on e5 and d6 are on dark squares. The pawn on f5 can also be a strength or a weakness. The computers and the databases like white."></a></p>
  
  <p>If black plays e5 against the Bg5 variation, 7. Nf5, d5 doesn't work because the knight on f6 is pinned, therefore the pawn on d5 is safe to capture.</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/CQfpL.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/CQfpL.png" alt="Again, black can&#39;t play d5. And again, Bxf5 is probably the best move for black hahaha."></a></p>
  
  <p>The remaining question is: Why is d5 a necessary resource?</p>
  
  <p>Well, d6 is going to fall and black will no longer play for a win because of the attack on the d file. He/she will have to worry and protect the d6 pawn while white goes for some kingside attack or whatever. After d5, black has no problems. Literally no weaknesses, none, and finally black can play for a win.</p>
  
  <p>Also, in the classical system, after d5, 8. Bg5 is the best move in which black gets in d4. Doesn't that just look crushing for black? And, which side would you rather pick? Black!</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/PM7BI.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/PM7BI.png" alt="This wouldn&#39;t have been at all possible if white went Bc4 or Bg5."></a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-06-11T06:45:05.100Z
Answers.Text: In a recent book on the Bc4 treatment of the Open Sicilian based on Fischer's games there is a chapter devoted to 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e5 7.Nf5 Bxf5 with the conclusion that is a normal playable line. This book also deals with the Najdorf (5..a6 instead of 5...Nc6 here) but then there is no mention of 6...e5 in the Najdorf move order. But this means that even if it is okay Nc6 but wrong in a6 then it is not a matter of general concepts because the positions are similar. Must be either a matter of a concrete argument or an omission due to lack of practice.
Answers.UserDisplayName: MichalRyszardWojcik
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2017-09-10T21:46:03.963Z
Answers.Text: Bxf5...hello? Downvoted.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jossie Calderon
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Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-06-09T05:29:54.920Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Fritz Flathead
Answers.Body: <p>Black <em>can</em> play 6...e5, it's just not very good. After 7.Nf5 White has a comfortable position with an edge in development and mobility.  </p>
  
  <p>For example, how is Black going to develop the f8-Bishop? 7...Be7 gives up the 2 bishops for no compensation; and 7...g6 8.Nh6 gives White an initiative or the 2 bishops.  </p>
  
  <p>Perhaps 7...Bxf5 is the best move. Black has a plan in targeting f5, but White has a long term advantage in control of d5, and after Bg5xf6, his light-squared bishop has better mobility than the Black dark-squared bishop.</p>
  
  <p>Further, White gets easy control of the very important d5 square.  In other variations of the Sicilian where Black plays ...e5,  he either gets ...d5 in later , or has other positional compensation for giving up d5.  (The Sveshnikov is a perfect example of the latter principle).</p>
  
  <p>Your question sounds like you're asking for a specific line that refutes 6...e5, but there is no such refutation.</p>
  
  <p>A similar situation is the Budapest Gambit.  There's no refutation but White comes away with an edge.  It sees regular play at sub-master level where the Black player will count on his ability to get White out of book and outplay White despite having a slightly inferior start.</p>
  
  <p>The 6...e5 does have some surprise value: in Mega Database, an alarmingly high number of games continued 7. Nde2 or 7. Nf3; after which 7...Be6 equalizes comfortably IMHO. (The central pawn mass compensates for doubled pawns, if Bxe6).</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-06-11T06:45:24.210Z
Answers.Text: In a recent book on the Bc4 treatment of the Open Sicilian based on Fischer's games there is a chapter devoted to 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e5 7.Nf5 Bxf5 with the conclusion that is a normal playable line. This book also deals with the Najdorf (5..a6 instead of 5...Nc6 here) but then there is no mention of 6...e5 in the Najdorf move order. But this means that even if it is okay Nc6 but wrong in a6 then it is not a matter of general concepts because the positions are similar. Must be either a matter of a concrete argument or an omission due to lack of practice.
Answers.UserDisplayName: MichalRyszardWojcik
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-06-11T06:51:29.867Z
Answers.Text: Fischer's games were 45 years ago....
Answers.UserDisplayName: M.M
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-06-11T06:53:35.860Z
Answers.Text: The book starts from Fischer's games and then examines recent games and has separate theory sections. Just a normal opening book with the extra theme that all Fischer's games are examined explicitly.
Answers.UserDisplayName: MichalRyszardWojcik
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-06-10T04:29:53.723Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-06-10T04:41:41.090Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2016-06-10T04:41:41.090Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: M.M
Body: <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  [StartPly "12"]
  [Title "What is wrong with 6..e5?"]
  
  1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e5
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Please do not reply that it weakens the d5 square and allows the white bishop to attack f7. I am an expert player with lots of experience with the Open Sicilian from both sides in many variations. In view of the systems where Black plays e7-e5 even allowing the doubling of pawns after bishop takes knight on f6 it is not at all evident that this move is bad.</p>
  
  <p>There is a related question about 6..e5 after 6.Bg5 without satisfactory answer for two years: <a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/4642/why-does-6-bg5-prevent-6-e5-in-the-sicilian-najdorf">Why does 6.Bg5 prevent 6...e5 in the Sicilian Najdorf?</a></p>
  
  <p>The 2013 book on the Najdorf Sicilian by Zaven Andiasyan is a Black repertoire book which replies e7-e5 to anything except 6.Bg5 and Bc4 without a single line of explanation why not.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-06-10T04:39:40.260Z
Comments.Text: Play it and find out what happens to you...:)
Comments.UserDisplayName: M.M
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-06-10T15:12:37.067Z
Comments.Text: If you are such an expert, WTF do you need this forum?  I'm an expert too, and if I played the open Sicilian as much as you say you do, I'd be able to figure it out on my own
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dexygen
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-05-26T13:35:40.743Z
Comments.Text: Look in the reference database for clues. What are the statistics for White after ...e5 here? This is usually a good indicator on whether a move is bad, or just unpopular for other reasons. After a quick glance, White has a good score (60%+), which is indicative of some issues with the move. Look through some games for ideas as to why this is.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Scounged
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-05-26T13:40:30.487Z
Comments.Text: I do not trust the success ratio in the statistics because this may have little to do with the truth. If the line is played by weak players only then it is going to be bad in statistics without revealing anything about the position itself.
Comments.UserDisplayName: MichalRyszardWojcik
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-05-26T14:00:29.367Z
Comments.Text: Well, there is a reason why no world class player has played ...e5 in the position, and it probably has to do with the soundness of the move. But there are grandmaster games in the line, where it has been tested somewhat. But the statistics are only an indicator. They don't give a final answer by any means. One thing though: There is more to the evaluation of a move than just the 'comp eval' (good/bad). The computer doesn't consider abstract things such as, for example, attacking potential, which is important for human players to consider. This is easier to figure out with statistics.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Scounged
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-05-26T14:36:37.157Z
Comments.Text: Why do you find the answer from AlwaysLearningNewStuff to be unsatisfactory?
Comments.UserDisplayName: Cleveland
Tags: <opening><sicilian-defense><najdorf>
Title: Why does 6.Bc4 prevent 6...e5 in the Sicilian Najdorf?
ThreadText: # Why does 6.Bc4 prevent 6...e5 in the Sicilian Najdorf?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-26)
  
  [FEN ""]
  [StartPly "12"]
  [Title "What is wrong with 6..e5?"]
  
  1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e5
  
  Please do not reply that it weakens the d5 square and allows the white bishop to attack f7. I am an expert player with lots of experience with the Open Sicilian from both sides in many variations. In view of the systems where Black plays e7-e5 even allowing the doubling of pawns after bishop takes knight on f6 it is not at all evident that this move is bad.
  There is a related question about 6..e5 after 6.Bg5 without satisfactory answer for two years: Why does 6.Bg5 prevent 6...e5 in the Sicilian Najdorf?
  The 2013 book on the Najdorf Sicilian by Zaven Andiasyan is a Black repertoire book which replies e7-e5 to anything except 6.Bg5 and Bc4 without a single line of explanation why not.
  
  **Tags:** opening, sicilian-defense, najdorf
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: Look in the reference database for clues. What are the statistics for White after ...e5 here? This is usually a good indicator on whether a move is bad, or just unpopular for other reasons. After a quick glance, White has a good score (60%+), which is indicative of some issues with the move. Look through some games for ideas as to why this is.  
  > **username_0**: I do not trust the success ratio in the statistics because this may have little to do with the truth. If the line is played by weak players only then it is going to be bad in statistics without revealing anything about the position itself.  
  > **username_3**: Well, there is a reason why no world class player has played ...e5 in the position, and it probably has to do with the soundness of the move. But there are grandmaster games in the line, where it has been tested somewhat. But the statistics are only an indicator. They don't give a final answer by any means. One thing though: There is more to the evaluation of a move than just the 'comp eval' (good/bad). The computer doesn't consider abstract things such as, for example, attacking potential, which is important for human players to consider. This is easier to figure out with statistics.  
  > **username_4**: Why do you find the answer from AlwaysLearningNewStuff to be unsatisfactory?  
  > **username_1**: Play it and find out what happens to you...:)  
  > **username_2**: If you are such an expert, WTF do you need this forum?  I'm an expert too, and if I played the open Sicilian as much as you say you do, I'd be able to figure it out on my own  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2016-06-09. Score: 8
  
  e5 is bad against the Fischer-sozin variation, because of 7. Nf5, which puts pressure on the d6 weakness.
  
  Now granted, you could play Nf5 whenever black plays e5, whether you're playing Be2 (the classical system), or Be3 (the english attack).
  
  So the real question is, what's the difference between:
  e5 in the Sozin variation, and
  e5 in the classical variation, f4 variation, english attack, etc. anything but Bc4 and Bg5.
  
  The difference is, after white plays Nf5 in the classical variation, black has this amazing resource which is 7...d5.
  
  If black plays e5 against the Sozin variation, 7. Nf5, d5 doesn't work because the pawn is capturable.
  
  [![You see why black can't play d5? And if black goes Bxf5 (which is likely the best move) then well, white gains the bishop pair and the light squared bisohp was probably black's strong bishop, because the pawns on e5 and d6 are on dark squares. The pawn on f5 can also be a strength or a weakness. The computers and the databases like white.](https://i.sstatic.net/qjcVI.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/qjcVI.png)
  
  If black plays e5 against the Bg5 variation, 7. Nf5, d5 doesn't work because the knight on f6 is pinned, therefore the pawn on d5 is safe to capture.
  
  [![Again, black can't play d5. And again, Bxf5 is probably the best move for black hahaha.](https://i.sstatic.net/CQfpL.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/CQfpL.png)
  
  The remaining question is: Why is d5 a necessary resource?
  
  Well, d6 is going to fall and black will no longer play for a win because of the attack on the d file. He/she will have to worry and protect the d6 pawn while white goes for some kingside attack or whatever. After d5, black has no problems. Literally no weaknesses, none, and finally black can play for a win.
  
  Also, in the classical system, after d5, 8. Bg5 is the best move in which black gets in d4. Doesn't that just look crushing for black? And, which side would you rather pick? Black!
  
  [![This wouldn't have been at all possible if white went Bc4 or Bg5.](https://i.sstatic.net/PM7BI.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/PM7BI.png)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: In a recent book on the Bc4 treatment of the Open Sicilian based on Fischer's games there is a chapter devoted to 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e5 7.Nf5 Bxf5 with the conclusion that is a normal playable line. This book also deals with the Najdorf (5..a6 instead of 5...Nc6 here) but then there is no mention of 6...e5 in the Najdorf move order. But this means that even if it is okay Nc6 but wrong in a6 then it is not a matter of general concepts because the positions are similar. Must be either a matter of a concrete argument or an omission due to lack of practice.  
  > **username_6**: Bxf5...hello? Downvoted.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2016-06-10. Score: 2
  
  Black *can* play 6...e5, it's just not very good. After 7.Nf5 White has a comfortable position with an edge in development and mobility.
  
  For example, how is Black going to develop the f8-Bishop? 7...Be7 gives up the 2 bishops for no compensation; and 7...g6 8.Nh6 gives White an initiative or the 2 bishops.
  
  Perhaps 7...Bxf5 is the best move. Black has a plan in targeting f5, but White has a long term advantage in control of d5, and after Bg5xf6, his light-squared bishop has better mobility than the Black dark-squared bishop.
  
  Further, White gets easy control of the very important d5 square. In other variations of the Sicilian where Black plays ...e5, he either gets ...d5 in later , or has other positional compensation for giving up d5. (The Sveshnikov is a perfect example of the latter principle).
  
  Your question sounds like you're asking for a specific line that refutes 6...e5, but there is no such refutation.
  
  A similar situation is the Budapest Gambit. There's no refutation but White comes away with an edge. It sees regular play at sub-master level where the Black player will count on his ability to get White out of book and outplay White despite having a slightly inferior start.
  
  The 6...e5 does have some surprise value: in Mega Database, an alarmingly high number of games continued 7. Nde2 or 7. Nf3; after which 7...Be6 equalizes comfortably IMHO. (The central pawn mass compensates for doubled pawns, if Bxe6).
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: In a recent book on the Bc4 treatment of the Open Sicilian based on Fischer's games there is a chapter devoted to 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e5 7.Nf5 Bxf5 with the conclusion that is a normal playable line. This book also deals with the Najdorf (5..a6 instead of 5...Nc6 here) but then there is no mention of 6...e5 in the Najdorf move order. But this means that even if it is okay Nc6 but wrong in a6 then it is not a matter of general concepts because the positions are similar. Must be either a matter of a concrete argument or an omission due to lack of practice.  
  > **username_1**: Fischer's games were 45 years ago....  
  > **username_0**: The book starts from Fischer's games and then examines recent games and has separate theory sections. Just a normal opening book with the extra theme that all Fischer's games are examined explicitly.  
  
  ---
  
  