Sicilian Defence — Dragon
B70 · Played as black · Advanced · Sicilian
Opposite-side castling, all-out attacks on both wings
The main line
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.O-O-O d5
Strategic ideas
- Exploit the g7 dragon bishop along the long diagonal
- Launch queenside counterplay with …Rxc3 exchange sacrifices
- Don't defend — answer White's h4-h5 storm by accelerating queenside counterplay, not plugging leaks
- Jump the knight to d4 when White's bishops sit on c4 and e3 to create immediate tactical complications
- Use the open c-file to generate rapid queenside counterattack
Key themes
- Attack — Both sides race to attack the enemy king — speed matters more than material
- Dynamic — The position is never static; every move must contribute to the attacking plan
- King Safety — With opposite-side castling both kings are directly in the firing line
Typical plans
Black castles kingside and uses the dragon bishop on g7 to pressure d4 and the entire long diagonal. Both sides typically castle opposite ways, creating mutual attacks where the first to break through wins. Dragon players must react instantly to White's h4–h5 kingside storm with precise queenside counter-blows involving …Rxc3 exchange sacrifices.
Move by move
- e4 — White claims the centre and opens lines for rapid development.
- c5 — Black meets 1.e4 asymmetrically, steering for a genuine fight rather than a drawish mirror position.
- Nf3 — White develops and prepares to challenge c5 with d4.
- d6 — A quiet pawn move with a clear job: it controls the e5 square so White can't push a pawn there later, and prepares the kingside fianchetto.
- d4 — White opens the centre, offering the trade that defines the Open Sicilian.
- cxd4 — Black captures toward the centre, gaining a tempo on White's f3-knight.
- Nxd4 — White recaptures centrally, ready to meet …g6 with Be3/f3/Qd2 attacking setups.
- Nf6 — Black develops, hitting e4 and preparing to fianchetto.
- Nc3 — White defends e4 and completes development before committing to a kingside plan.
- g6 — Black chooses the Dragon setup, fianchettoing to g7 to seize the long a1–h8 diagonal and prepare opposite-side castling.
- Be3 — White develops toward the queenside, preparing the thematic Yugoslav Attack setup.
- Bg7 — Black completes the fianchetto, aiming the bishop down the long diagonal at White's queenside.
- f3 — White supports e4 and prepares a big pawn storm without needing to worry about …Ng4 tricks.
- O-O — Black castles into safety before the position sharpens dramatically.
- Qd2 — White prepares to castle queenside, connecting the rooks and readying the h-pawn storm.
- Nc6 — Black develops the last minor piece, adding pressure to d4 and preparing central counterplay.
- O-O-O — White castles queenside, setting up the classic opposite-side castling race.
- d5 — Black strikes in the centre at once, the sharpest and most critical Dragon try, opening lines before White's attack gets rolling.