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.

Best Games

Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Anand, Viswanathan1-0
Amber-blind 6th • 1997★ Notable
Nur, Nawrose Farh vs Aronian, Levon0-1
Wch U12 • 1993★ Notable
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir1/2-1/2
Linares • 1992★ Notable
Adams, Michael vs Shirov, Alexei0-1
Biel • 1991★ Notable
Smyslov, Vassily vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1/2-1/2
World Championship 22th • 1958★ Notable
Smyslov, Vassily vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1/2-1/2
World Championship 22th • 1958★ Notable
Smyslov, Vassily vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1-0
World Championship 22th • 1958★ Notable
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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