B71

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Levenfish Variation

Key moves: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6

The Dragon Variation is one of the sharpest openings in chess. Black fianchettoes the bishop to g7, creating a "dragon" diagonal aimed at White's queenside. The Yugoslav Attack (Be3, Qd2, O-O-O) leads to some of the most violent attacking games in chess.

History & Notable Players

Named because the pawn structure supposedly resembles the constellation Draco. The Dragon has been a battleground for attacking players throughout chess history.

Best Games

Morozevich,A vs Gelfand,B1/2-1/2
TCh-RUS • 2005
Polgar, Judit vs Topalov, Veselin1-0
Leon • 1996
Carlsen,M vs Liu,Zachary Hankun1-0
Titled Tue 2nd Jul Late • 2024
Shevchenko,Kirill vs Erigaisi,Arjun0-1
chess.com Junior Speed • 2021
Hector,J vs Korchnoi,V1/2-1/2
Politiken Cup • 2005
Hou,Y vs Khvan,Boris1-0
WYb10 • 2004
Polgar, Judit vs Gulko, Boris F1/2-1/2
Cardoza US op • 1998
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Hellers, Ferdinand1/2-1/2
OHRA • 1986
Kasparov, Gary vs Balashov, Yuri S1/2-1/2
Moscow • 1981
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Miles, Anthony J0-1
EU-chT • 1980
Larsen, Bent vs Lein, Anatoly1-0
Lone Pine op • 1979
Parma, Bruno vs Larsen, Bent1/2-1/2
Bled/Portoroz • 1979
Timman, Jan H vs Langeweg, Kick0-1
IBM • 1974
Tarjan, James Edward vs Timman, Jan H0-1
Venice • 1974
Rossetto, Hector vs Najdorf, Miguel0-1
ARG-ch • 1968
Bilek, Istvan vs Najdorf, Miguel1/2-1/2
Moscow • 1967
Portisch, Lajos vs Diez del Corral, Jesus1-0
Palma de Mallorca • 1967
Keres, Paul vs Padevsky, Nikola1/2-1/2
Alekhine mem • 1963
Bronstein, David I vs Vasiukov, Evgeni1/2-1/2
URS-ch26 • 1959
Keres, Paul vs Benitez, Francisco1/2-1/2
Munich olm prel • 1958

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