Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Modern Line

17/17
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3g66.Be3Bg77.f3Nc68.Qd2O-O9.O-O-O
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Modern Line923k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
29%270k54%
24%217k43%
18%163k49%
14%124k37%
3.5%32k41%
3.3%30k40%
2.7%25k37%
1.4%13k42%
1.4%12k38%
1.1%10k38%
Famous games in this line5.4k master games
Caruana, F. (2803) – Nakamura, Hi (2799)2015½–½Anand, V. (2776) – Nakamura, Hi (2787)2018½–½Nepomniachtchi, I. (2751) – Nakamura, Hi (2792)2017½–½Leko, Peter (2762) – Radjabov, Teimour (2757)2009½–½Ivanchuk, Vassily (2746) – Carlsen, Magnus (2770)2009½–½Ivanchuk, Vassily (2746) – Carlsen, Magnus (2770)20091–0Dominguez Perez, L. (2748) – Abdusattorov, Nodirbek (2762)2024½–½Short, Nigel D (2707) – Carlsen, Magnus (2801)2009½–½
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B76
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O
SharpAggressive
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Moscow Gambit3.Bb5 Nc6 4.O-O Bd7 5.c3 Nf6 …Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Fischer Variation2…Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Main Line7…O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4
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.

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