Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...d6/3. d4/3...cxd4/4. Nxd4/4...Nf6/5. Nc3/5...g6

Dragon variation B70 Sicilian defence → 5. Nc3 5...g6 · Dragon variation Black prepares to fianchetto their dark-square bishop. From g7 this bishop will exert considerable pressure over the centre and facilitate a queen's side attack. However, 5...g6 weakens Black's kingside pawn structure and encourages White to pursue a king's side attack of their own. 6. Be3 is the main move. This usually leads to the Yugoslav attack, where White castles queen's side and tries to pawn storm on the king's side. Because both players are attacking on opposite wings, there is no time to be lost for either side and subtle manoeuvring will tend to take a back seat to sharp tactics. 6. Be2, the classical variation, is the main alternative, where White prepares to castles short and away Black's powerful bishop. This is a less sharp continuation. Less common approaches include: 6. f4 is the Levenfish attack. This postpones matters of development to take space and prepare the trappy move e5, an immediate assault on the centre. 6. g3 is the fianchetto variation. This prepares Bg2 and O-O. 6. f3 is a small move order difference, usually transposing into the main line after 6...O-O 7. Be3. 6. Bc4 may transpose into the Yugoslav attack (6...Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Qd2), or lead to a Sozin attack-style line where White castles short and focuses on piece play rather than a pawn storm. History thumb|right|The constellation Draco. The term "dragon" for this line has been used in German since at least the 1910s; Fyodor Dus-Chotimirsky later claimed to have invented the name in 1901, inspired by Black's pawn structure's resemblance to the constellation Draco (the dragon).The Dragon Variation (C.N. 5135) https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter99.html#CN_7826 Winter Edward 2027-10-27 2026-03-20 Chess NotesUnsolved Chess Mysteries (8) https://en.chessbase.com/post/edward-winter-presents-unsolved-che-mysteries-8- Winter Edward 2018-06-18 2026-03-20 ChessBase The dragon is one of the most Sicilians. The viciousness of White's Yugoslav attack led to some players adopting the accelerated move order, where Black avoids playing ...d6 in the hope of playing ...d5 in one tempo later. Between them, the dragon and accelerated dragon are common recommendations as less theory-dense alternatives to the Najdorf. Among its highest levels outings was in the 1995 PCA World Championship, where Viswanathan Anand's attacks crashed and burned against Garry Kasparov's dragon Sicilian.PCA World Championship. Chessgames.comAnand vs Kasparov, 1995. Chessgames.com Theory table 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6 7 8 Main line Be3Bg7 f3O-O Qd2Nc6 += Be2Bg7 O-OO-O Nb3Nc6 += Levenfish Variation f4Nc6 Nxc6bxc6 e5Nd7 += f3Bg7 Be3 See Main line g3Nc6 Bg2Nxd4 Qxd4Bg7 = Bc4Bg7 h3O-O O-Oa6 = References See also Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation fi:Shakkiaapinen/Peli/1. e4/1...c5/2. Rf3/2...d6/3. d4/3...cxd4/4. Rxd4/4...Rf6/5. Rc3/5...g6