Sicilian Defense, Najdorf Variation, Poisoned Pawn Variation

The Poisoned Pawn Variation arises after 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6. Black's queen attacks b2 and d4 at the same time. After 8.Qd2 Qxb2, Black wins a pawn, but the queen is far from the other pieces and may have to spend several moves finding a safe route.

The pawn is called poisoned because taking it can carry a hidden cost. The name does not mean that Qxb2 is a mistake or that the queen is forcibly trapped. It means Black accepts a position in which every move must answer concrete threats, while White receives compensation because the pieces leave their starting squares quickly, create threats, and gain attacking chances.

What the struggle is really about

White uses the rook on b1 to force the queen to move repeatedly while White develops pieces, tries to open the center, and brings pieces into the attack before Black completes development. Black tries to keep the extra pawn, return it when useful, and neutralize the attack. Here initiative means the ability to create threats that force the opponent to respond.

This line begins with 6.Bg5, not 6.Be3. It is therefore not a continuation of the English Attack, even though both belong to the Najdorf. Memorized analysis can help, but understanding why the queen is exposed matters more than repeating moves without context.