Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Sosonko Variation

18/18
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3g66.Be3Bg77.f3Nc68.Qd2O-O9.Bc4Nd7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Sosonko Variation22k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
62%13k48%
12%2.5k54%
9.2%2.0k54%
8.5%1.8k51%
3.2%68945%
1.3%27344%
1.1%24045%
0.7%15646%
0.5%11841%
0.5%10152%
Famous games in this line257 master games
Shirov, Alexei (2723) – Tiviakov, Sergei (2635)20031–0Volokitin, Andrei (2654) – Tiviakov, Sergei (2663)2007½–½Nijboer, Friso (2555) – Georgiev, Kiril (2660)1993½–½Sulskis, Sarunas (2567) – Tiviakov, Sergei (2635)20031–0Motylev, Alexander (2680) – Mamedov, Rauf (2511)20051–0Ljubojevic, Ljubomir (2600) – Georgiev, Kiril (2580)1990½–½Mista, Aleksander (2563) – Azarov, Sergei (2612)2010½–½Sveshnikov, Evgeny (2551) – Fedorov, Alexei (2604)2003½–½
Heroes of this opening Shirov, Alexei · Sulskis, Sarunas · Motylev, Alexander
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B77
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. Bc4 Nd7
SharpAggressive
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Main Line5…a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 …Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Browne Variation5…a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 …Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Goteborg Variation5…a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 …
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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