B74

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Normal Line

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

Svidler,P vs Carlsen,M0-1
19th Amber Blindfold • 2010★ Notable
Asrian, Karen vs Khalifman, Alexander0-1
FIDE-Wch k.o. • 1999★ Notable
Grischuk, Alexander vs Le Roux, Jean Pierre1/2-1/2
Wch U12 • 1994★ Notable
Svidler, Peter vs Khalifman, Alexander1-0
Tilburg • 1994★ Notable
Grischuk, Alexander vs Hua Lefong1-0
Wch U12 • 1994★ Notable
Galkin, Alexander vs Leko, Peter1/2-1/2
Wch U14 • 1993★ Notable
Anand, Viswanathan vs Gelfand, Boris1/2-1/2
Linares • 1992★ Notable
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Larsen, Bent1/2-1/2
Riga Interzonal • 1979★ Notable
Larsen, Bent vs Keller, Daniel1-0
Wch U20 qual • 1953★ Notable
Timman,J vs Tiviakov,S0-1
Corus • 2001
Svidler, Peter vs Kramnik, Vladimir1/2-1/2
EUCup final 14th • 1999
Short, Nigel D vs Miles, Anthony J1/2-1/2
Dortmund • 1986
Bronstein, David I vs Smyslov, Vassily1-0
Moscow-ch • 1946
Kramnik,V vs Assaubayeva,Bibisara1-0
Satty Zhuldyz Blitz 2023 • 2023
Caruana,F vs Taichman,O1-0
Titled Tue 12th Apr Early • 2022
Varshini,V vs Erigaisi,Arjun0-1
14th Paracin Summer Open • 2021
Wei Yi vs Lu Shanglei0-1
ch-CHN Rapid 2018 • 2018
Lobanov,Sergei vs Khalifman,A1-0
European Rapid 2016 • 2016
Cai Jiaying vs Hou Yifan0-1
TCh-CHN • 2010
Navara,D vs Evdokimov,Alexa1/2-1/2
6th EICC • 2005

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