Forever Chess GamesForever Chess Games Logo
CreateGiftsProductsGamesPlayersOpeningsTop 100FAQ

Explore

  • Players
  • Openings
  • Famous Games
  • Top 100 Games
  • World Championships

Create

  • Create Visualisation
  • How It Works
  • Gift Ideas

Eras

  • 1880s – Classical
  • 1960s – Fischer Era
  • 1990s – Kasparov Era
  • 2020s – Modern

Info

  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use

© 2026 Forever Chess Games. All Rights Reserved

  1. Home
  2. /Openings
  3. /Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation (B73)
B73

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical 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.

Top Players in this Opening

Kamsky,G22 gamesKramnik,V11 gamesLasker, Emanuel9 gamesGeller, Efim P9 gamesLarsen, Bent5 gamesLjubojevic, Ljubomir4 gamesTimman, Jan H4 gamesErigaisi,Arjun4 gamesReshevsky, Samuel Herman4 gamesNavara,D3 games

Related Openings

B70 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation317B71 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Levenfish Variation31B72 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation115B74 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Normal Line68B75 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Belezky Line61B76 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack298B77 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack95B78 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack136B79 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack21

Best Games

Kamsky,G vs Gashimov,V1/2-1/2
GRENKE Rapid WCh 2010Notable
Kamsky,G vs Carlsen,M1-0
18th Amber Rapid 2009Notable
Moussard,J vs Erigaisi,Arjun0-1
56th Biel GM Blitz 2023 2023
Kramnik,V vs Erigaisi,Arjun1-0
Satty Zhuldyz Blitz 2023 2023
Navara,D vs Erigaisi,Arjun0-1
Julius Baer GenCup Prelim 2022
Kamsky,G vs Praggnanandhaa,R1-0
Djerba Blitz Masters KO 2020
Kamsky,G vs Radjabov,T1/2-1/2
III Kings' Tournament 2009
Navara,D vs Ivanchuk,V1/2-1/2
Cez Trophy Rapid 2009
Short,N vs Motylev,A1/2-1/2
Corus B 2009
Timman, Jan H vs Topalov, Veselin1/2-1/2
Novgorod 1995
Adams, Michael vs Khalifman, Alexander0-1
Las Palmas 1993
Illescas Cordoba, Miguel vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir0-1
Bilbao 1987
Timman, Jan H vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir1/2-1/2
Bugojno 1986
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Van der Wiel, John TH1/2-1/2
Tilburg 1984
Geller, Efim P vs Timman, Jan H1/2-1/2
Phillips&Drew 1982
Jimenez Zerquera, Eleazar vs Larsen, Bent1/2-1/2
Palma de Mallorca Interzonal 1970
Darga, Klaus vs Larsen, Bent0-1
Amsterdam Interzonal 1964
Gukesh,D vs Henriquez Villagra,C1/2-1/2
World Rapid 2025 2025
Kamsky,G vs Korchmar,V1-0
Titled Tue 24th Dec Late 2024
Kamsky,G vs Fernandez Estremera,Fernando1-0
Titled Tue 10th Dec Late 2024

Explore More

All OpeningsAll Players