Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Normal Line
17/17
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3g66.Be2Bg77.O-OO-O8.Be3Nc69.Nb3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Normal Line56k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
32%18k49%
27%15k47%
20%11k45%
3.4%1.9k46%
3.2%1.8k45%
1.2%68445%
0.8%47845%
0.8%45043%
0.8%42539%
Famous games in this line1.0k master games
Svidler, Peter (2750) – Carlsen, Magnus (2813)Timofeev, Artyom (2690) – Wang, Hao (2724)Harikrishna, P. (2740) – Mamedov, Nid (2597)Negi, Parimarjan (2643) – Kryvoruchko, Yuriy (2678)Timofeev, Artyom (2668) – Zvjaginsev, Vadim (2635)Timman, Jan H (2660) – Hjartarson, Johann (2610)Alekseev, Evgeny (2715) – Maslak, Konstantin (2544)Bronstein, David I (2590) – Kortschnoj, Viktor (2665)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Wang, Hao · Harikrishna, P. · Kryvoruchko, Yuriy
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B74
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Nb3
Sharp
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Dragon VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Maróczy Line9…Be6 10.f4 Na5Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Tartakower Line9…Be6 10.f4 Qc8
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
No reply to 1.e4 is played more. Fischer made the Najdorf his main weapon, and Kasparov's Sicilians are pillars of chess history — the Scheveningen against Karpov, the Dragon he unveiled against Anand in 1995. When you play 1...c5 you refuse symmetry, the same refusal that carried two world champions.
Study this opening