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  3. /Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Normal Line (B74)
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.

Top Players in this Opening

Khalifman, Alexander8 gamesSvidler, Peter6 gamesLarsen, Bent5 gamesReshevsky, Samuel Herman3 gamesCarlsen,M3 gamesSmyslov, Vassily3 gamesGeller, Efim P3 gamesAlekhine, Alexander3 gamesLeko, Peter3 gamesTimman, Jan H3 games

Related Openings

B70 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation317B71 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Levenfish Variation31B72 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation115B73 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation105B75 - 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

Svidler,P vs Carlsen,M0-1
19th Amber Blindfold 2010Notable
Asrian, Karen vs Khalifman, Alexander0-1
FIDE-Wch k.o. 1999Notable
Svidler, Peter vs Khalifman, Alexander1-0
Tilburg 1994Notable
Grischuk, Alexander vs Le Roux, Jean Pierre1/2-1/2
Wch U12 1994Notable
Grischuk, Alexander vs Hua Lefong1-0
Wch U12 1994Notable
Galkin, Alexander vs Leko, Peter1/2-1/2
Wch U14 1993Notable
Anand, Viswanathan vs Gelfand, Boris1/2-1/2
Linares 1992Notable
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Larsen, Bent1/2-1/2
Riga Interzonal 1979Notable
Larsen, Bent vs Keller, Daniel1-0
Wch U20 qual 1953Notable
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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