Sicilian DefenseB70

Dragon Variation

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

Every move explained, never a dead end.

Both sides plans

White's plan

Yugoslav Attack: Be3, Qd2, f3, castle long, then h4-h5 to open the h-file. The standard plan is to trade off the g7-bishop, Black's only real defender.

Black's plan

The g7-bishop rakes the long diagonal all the way to a1. All the counterplay lives there: ...Rc8, ...Ne5-c4 hitting the queenside structure, and the exchange sacrifice Rxc3 to wreck the white king's shelter.

The line, move by move

1. e4e4 occupies the center.
... c5c5 controls d4.
2. Nf3Nf3 develops the knight and controls d4 and e5.
... d6d6 controls e5.
3. d4d4 strikes at the center.
... cxd4cxd4 captures a pawn, occupies the center.
4. Nxd4Nxd4 captures a pawn.
... Nf6Nf6 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.
5. Nc3Nc3 develops the knight and controls e4 and d5.
... g6g6 repositions the pawn.

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Other major variations

The complete Sicilian Defense guide See all 388 variations in the branch map