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  3. /Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation (B72)
B72

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.

Top Players in this Opening

Larsen, Bent7 gamesCarlsen,M7 gamesBotvinnik, Mikhail7 gamesRapport,R6 gamesLjubojevic, Ljubomir6 gamesShirov,A6 gamesKeres, Paul5 gamesSmyslov, Vassily5 gamesAnand, Viswanathan4 gamesKhalifman, Alexander4 games

Related Openings

B70 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation317B71 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Levenfish Variation31B73 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation105B74 - 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

Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Anand, Viswanathan1-0
Amber-blind 6th 1997Notable
Nur, Nawrose Farh vs Aronian, Levon0-1
Wch U12 1993Notable
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir1/2-1/2
Linares 1992Notable
Adams, Michael vs Shirov, Alexei0-1
Biel 1991Notable
Smyslov, Vassily vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1-0
World Championship 22th 1958Notable
Smyslov, Vassily vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1/2-1/2
World Championship 22th 1958Notable
Smyslov, Vassily vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1/2-1/2
World Championship 22th 1958Notable
Harikrishna,P vs Erigaisi,Arjun1-0
87th Tata Steel Masters 2025
Firouzja,Alireza vs Carlsen,M1-0
Bullet Chess Winners 2023 2023
Carlsen,M vs Nakamura,Hi1/2-1/2
chess.com Speed 3m+2spm 2017 2018
Karjakin,Sergey vs Morozevich,A1/2-1/2
8th Tal Mem Blitz 2013
Short,N vs Agdestein,S1/2-1/2
38th Olympiad 2008
Anand,V vs Kasparov,G1/2-1/2
XX SuperGM 2003
Fedorov,Alex vs Topalov,V1/2-1/2
Corus 2001
Short, Nigel D vs Kramnik, Vladimir1-0
Novgorod 1997
Polgar, Judit vs Topalov, Veselin0-1
Novgorod 1996
Shirov, Alexei vs Topalov, Veselin1/2-1/2
Madrid 1996
Short, Nigel D vs Khalifman, Alexander1/2-1/2
Hoogovens op 1995
Dolmatov, Sergey vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir1-0
Manila Interzonal 1990
Tal, Mihail vs Larsen, Bent1/2-1/2
Brussels 1987

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