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B70 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation

♜♚♛♝♜♟♟♟♝♟♟♟♞♟♞♟♞♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♝♚♛♝♞♜
11/11
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3g66.Be2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation460k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
Bg797%444k50%
Nc61.5%7.0k50%
a61.5%6.8k48%
Bd70.1%67549%
Nbd70.1%46057%
h50.1%36746%
e50.1%23236%
Qa50%10041%
Qb60%4850%
Bh60%3214%
Famous games in this line2.4k master games
Kramnik, Vladimir (2791) – Aronian, Levon (2807)2011½–½Svidler, Peter (2750) – Carlsen, Magnus (2813)20100–1Kamsky, Gata (2725) – Carlsen, Magnus (2776)20091–0Kramnik, Vladimir (2810) – Mamedov, Rau (2684)2016½–½Grischuk, Alexander (2736) – Gashimov, Vugar (2758)20091–0Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2730) – Nakamura, Hikaru (2758)2011½–½Kamsky, Gata (2720) – Radjabov, Teimour (2756)2009½–½Carlsen, M. (2851) – Petrosian, TL. (2611)20161–0
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Kamsky, Gata · Grischuk, Alexander
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Normal LineB74 6…Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Nb3 · 2 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Battery VariationB73 6…Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Qd2Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Maróczy LineB74 6…Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Nb3 …Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Tartakower LineB74 6…Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Nb3 …
Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Sozin AttackB86 2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Venice AttackB56 5…e5 6.Bb5Sicilian Defense: Spielmann VariationB56 2…Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …
From the archives

No defense has won more games at every level than the Sicilian. Bobby Fischer played almost nothing else against 1.e4, and Kasparov's Najdorf battles with Karpov and Anand are pillars of chess history. When you play 1...c5, you're refusing symmetry — the same refusal that carried two world champions.

Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B70
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2
Sharp
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Dragon VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
Study this opening elsewhere
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