This can ultimately open up the kingside and make way for the rook on h1. The Sicilian Dragon is named for the similarity of its structure to the constellation Draco. (Black aims for his typical setup in the Sicilian Dragon Variation) 7.e5! Click here for instant access with 50% off, Tactics in the Ultra-Flexible London System – 80/20 Tactics Multiplier – IM Eric Rosen, Grunfeld Defense – The Definitive Guide To A Dynamic Chess Opening, Closed Catalan System – Chess Openings for Black – IM Ostrovskiy [Chess World], Calculation Masterclass with IM Erlend Mikalsen, Attacking Play Manual with IM David Fitzsimons, Top 5 Tried-And-True Chess Defenses For Black, Chess Video Training Guide: From Chess Beginner to Expert, Free Online Chess Websites Certain To Improve Your Game, Master The King’s Gambit with GM Marian Petrov. The Sicilian Defence is a chess opening that begins with the following moves: . Toggle Submenu for Shop Chess Courses & Videos. This is the starting position of The Sicilian Kan variation in Sicilian defense. The Alapin Sicilian, also known as the Alapin variation or the “c3 Sicilian,” is an opening white can employ against the Sicilian Defense. Kf8 (9…Bd7 loses to 10.Qxg4!) Occasionally, the opening has been called “unplayable” and believed to be refuted – but it always rises again, more powerful than before. It is an early declaration of war to any e4-player and usually leads to breathtaking dynamic and double-edged positions. After that, the direction in which the play will develop depends to a great extent on whether White decides to castle on the kingside or on the queenside. The reason behind a6 move in Sicilian . It has two functions. On the flip side, the move order with 2…g6 also opens up some other possibilities for White. Nc3 g6. Your email address will not be published. It was played frequently by Henry Bird that decade, then received general acceptance around 1900. Google Video. GM Jones is an English Grandmaster who has broken the 2700-Elo barrier. Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences. You can watch their approaches against different chess opening setups and become familiar with the latest trends, fashionable move orders or opening novelties. It has been played by Super Grandmasters such as Carlsen, Kasparov, Ivanchuk, Radjabov, and Nakamura. White now most frequently sets up according to the pattern Bc1-e3, f2-f3, Qd1-d2 and long castling in order to attack on the kingside. It is also considered to be one of the sharpest and most aggressive openings. Nxd4 Nf6 5. The Sicilian Defense is arguably the best answer to white’s most common opening, 1. e4. The Najdorf Variation (marked by 5. The modern form of the Dragon was originated by German master Louis Paulsen around 1880. We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. 1 [FEN ""] 1. e4 c5 2. Required fields are marked *. It wouldn’t be honest and fair to praise a chess opening without mentioning its disadvantages. The main idea behind this line is to prepare the move e7-e5, which offers Black a majority in the centre and lots of ambitious attacking ideas. Active 10 months ago. The Yugoslav Attack is the most important line of the Dragon variation of the Sicilian Defense. g6 {Dragon Variation, I don't know for sure why this is called dragon variation. Still, Black can benefit from the different move orders with 2…d6 and 2…g6. As you play aggressive lines you always get a chance to outplay your opponent. Nerves of steel and a good memory are prerequisites for this opening. It was used by Kasparov to defeat Vishy Anand twice in their World Championship Match in 1995, for example. It is also known to be one of the most extensively analyzed opening systems in chess and one of the most-feared counterattacking options for Black against the move 1.e4. There are certain razor-sharp lines in which you need to know your stuff inside out. While looking at a chess opening, it is always important to weigh the pros and cons. This is the key starting position – or tabiya – of the Sicilian Dragon. We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. The Sicilian Defense Dragon Variation is a very aggressive and very dangerous variant for the white pieces although the black pieces have to be prepared to counteract the Yugoslav Attack and therefore the latter must be known. attacking both, the knight on f6 and the pawn on c6. The Sicilian Defense is widely known as one of the most solid defenses against white. The 7 best variations of the Sicilian Defence are: The Open Sicilian, the Najdorf, the Dragon, the Moscow, the Rossolimo, the hyper-accelerated Dragon and the O’Kelly. This opening was played by many great chess players including Bird, Pillsbury, Paulsen, Kasparov, Topalov and many more. The modern form of the Dragon was originated by Paulsen around 1880. The main idea is to push h4-h5 to be able to attack the g6 pawn. It is instructive to see that the Dragon Variation is the most harmonious setup of all lines in the Sicilian Defense. After all, there’s no such thing as a perfect opening, otherwise every player would use it! The difference between the Dragon Variation and the many other systems in the Sicilian Defence is above all the active posting of the black king’s bishop on g7. 1.e4 c5 2. Nxc6 bxc6 12. One is called waiting move and the 2nd is to play b5 in order to expand in queenside. So-called “refutations” of the Sicilian Dragon have been destroyed time and again over the years and many adherents of the Sicilian Dragon have spent countless hours looking for improvements, novelties, and modernizations. Typically white will castle on the queen side and black will castle on the king side. (5... Nc6 {Classical Sicilian, The. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. You can compare the Sicilian Dragon to the Najdorf Variation, for example, in which Black has a big hole on d5 and a weak pawn on d6. The Kan Variation rushes to play a6 and stop white from advancing Nb5. There is always a chance to win. Trick moves and traps abound in chess. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. taking control of the e5-square. On top of that, the move order with 2…g6 has the advantage of avoiding the famous system for White after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+. It is highly unpleasant to worry about getting mated in less than 25 moves in these sharp lines. In contrast to the “normal” Sicilian Defense Dragon Variation, Black avoids playing d7–d6, so that he can later play d7–d5 in one move if possible. 3. Don’t let the word “defense” fool you, as the Sicilian is an aggressive, complex opening with many variations. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. iChess LLC All Rights Reserved. The good news about playing the Sicilian Dragon is that White’s options to play for an opening advantage are rather limited. It is important to note that Black does not want to move his e-pawn if there is no concrete reason because this would severely weaken the pawn on d6. 4…d6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bc4 g6? The Sicilian Defense in chess: the Dragon Variation. which looks like the tail of the dragon.} Nowadays, White’s only real possibility to create problems for Black in the Sicilian Dragon is to play lines with long-side castling. The opening moves are 1. e4 c5 2. c3 White plays an early c2-c3, intending to follow up with d2-d4 to grab the center! If you want to learn a new chess opening or keep up to date with your opening system, it is a wise decision to regularly check the games of the world’s leading experts in the opening. The Sicilian Dragon Variation is the most aggressive variation in the Sicilian Defense. To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement. This is a common themes in many Sicilian Variation, like the Najdorf Defense, but the Kan Variation plays a6 as early as turn 4. After that, the direction in which the play will develop depends to a great extent on whether White decides to … Retrieved 2007-04-25. The Sicilian Defense Dragon Variation is one of the sharpest chess openings you can play. Sicilian Defense, The Dragon Variation. Tolkien. The same happens in the Sveshnikov Sicilian in which Black has his central pawns on e5 and d6 also. Players who prefer to stay away from complex lines and razor-sharp variations should not play the Dragon! The Najdorf variation is the most popular line of the Sicilian defense. Nc3 and Black plays 5… g6. Nf3 - Chess Opening explorer. The Dragon Sicilian Defense makes Black’s whole gameplan manifest, in that the dark-squared Bishop will be a key attacker on the Queenside. Bd4 What is White's plan & idea behind 12. A chess book. The Accelerated Dragon, and its close cousin the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon, are very interesting attempts by black to achieve the kingside fianchetto in the Sicilian without coming under such heavy fire on the kingside. Tricks and Traps. © 2021 iChess.net. White prepares 7.e5, attacking Black’s knight on f6. Hence, here are a few words of warning: If you’re playing the Sicilian Dragon, the importance of theory cannot be underestimated. He can go for 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4!? The only potential weakness in Black’s camp is the d5-square. (6…Bg7! 10.Qxd8 and Black can resign. This opening trap occurs after the moves 1.e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6.g3 Bg7 7.Bg2 Nc6? Here’s a little appetizer of the exciting Sicilian Dragon. New customer? The most common is the Yugoslav Attack but this is a double edge sword. To worry about getting mated in less than 25 moves in these sharp lines,. Used by Kasparov to defeat Vishy Anand twice in their World Championship Match 1995. Line of the sharpest chess openings you can decide which cookies to use selecting. Modern form of the Sicilian is an early declaration of war to any e4-player and usually leads to dynamic... Wouldn ’ t let the sicilian defense dragon variation “ Defense ” fool you, as Sicilian. To a great extent on whether White decides to … Retrieved 2007-04-25 opening with variations..., to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content ) 7.e5 master Louis Paulsen around 1880 after,. 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