B70

Sicilian Defense: Dragon 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

Gukesh,D vs Erigaisi,Arjun0-1
Tata Steel India Blitz • 2022★ Notable
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Grischuk,A1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial Blitz 2014 • 2014★ Notable
Nepomniachtchi,I vs Nakamura,Hi1/2-1/2
6th Tal Memorial • 2011★ Notable
Leon Hoyos,M vs So,W1/2-1/2
WCh-Junior • 2008★ Notable
Khalifman,A vs Leko,P1/2-1/2
FIDE WCh KO • 2000★ Notable
Ivanchuk,V vs Gelfand,B1/2-1/2
Amber Blindfold • 2000★ Notable
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Anand, Viswanathan1-0
Amber-rapid 7th • 1998★ Notable
Adams, Michael vs Short, Nigel D1/2-1/2
FIDE-Wch k.o. • 1997★ Notable
Kasimdzhanov, Rustam vs Georgiev, Vladimir0-1
Wch U20 • 1995★ Notable
Kundin, S. vs Aronian, Levon1/2-1/2
Wch U14 Disney • 1995★ Notable
Anand, Viswanathan vs Topalov, Veselin0-1
Linares • 1994★ Notable
Kamsky, Gata vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir1-0
Amber-blind 3rd • 1994★ Notable
Leko, Peter vs Turzo, Attila1-0
Wch U16 • 1994★ Notable
Kasimdzhanov, Rustam vs Mirzoev, Azer0-1
Wch U16 • 1993★ Notable
Moutousis, Konstantinos vs Shirov, Alexei0-1
Wch U20 • 1990★ Notable
Topalov, Veselin vs Desbones, Samy1-0
Wch U16 • 1990★ Notable
Anand, Viswanathan vs Hellers, Ferdinand1/2-1/2
Wch U20 • 1986★ Notable
Larsen, Bent vs Ivkov, Borislav1/2-1/2
Wch U20 qual • 1953★ Notable
Caruana,F vs Grischuk,A1-0
World Blitz 2025 • 2025
Firouzja,Alireza vs Nakamura,Hi0-1
Titled Tue 12th Nov Early • 2024

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