Sicilian Dragon
Overview
The Sicilian Defense is considered one of the best counters to White’s most common first, 1. e4.
The Sicilian Dragon is one of the lines of the Sicilian Defence for Black.
The Sicilian Dragon is an excellent Defense because Black prevents White from playing d4 and gaining a strong pawn center.
The Main ideas of the Sicilian Dragon:
- Do not put your pawn on e5 (since it completely blocks in your dark squared bishop) . Either keep your pawn on e6, or more commonly, on it’s starting square of e7.
- Force your opponent to put their pawns on b3 or b4 (you can do this by putting your pawn on b5 - to support Knight outpost square on c4 ). That way the dark squared bishop controls the long diagonal (and attacks the rook).
- If your opponent castles queenside (which they normally will), you can attack the weak b2 square with your bishop and queen on that long diagonal (which in many cases can result in a quick checkmate)
The Sicilian Dragon defense can be attacked in three different ways based on White's sixth move:
- the Yugoslav Attack (6. Be3)
- the Classical Variation (6. Be2)
- the Levenfish Attack (6. f4)
The Yugoslav Attack is a standard attack that White uses with Siclian Defense in general (against either the Dragon or Najdorf variations). It is the most common White response.
The main idea include a kingside attack with both the long diagonal of the bishops, as well as rushing the g and h pawns towards the enemy King.
White plays this variation if he likes games where both sides castle on opposite flanks and rush each others sides with pawn storms.
The Classical Variation Attack is much more
strategic than
the Yugoslav Attack and White should choose this variation if he prefers slower/more positional games.The Levenfish attack focuses on white castling kingside and getting his f-pawn to f4, in hopes of opening the f-file for the kingside rook.
Getting the f-pawn to f4 is done relatively quickly and sometimes Black can fall into some traps.
This attack is not currently very common, and White should only choose it if he likes aggressive games.
How to reach the Sicilian Dragon?
- First, White must move the King’s pawn two squares (1.e4).
- Then, Black replies by moving his c-pawn two squares (1...c5).
- White replies by moving his Knight three squares (2. Nf3).
- Black's most common move after 2.Nf3 is 2...d6. This prepares ...Nf6 to attack the e-pawn without letting White push it to e5. (2…d6).
- White replies by moving his Queen’s-side pawn two squares (3. d4).
- Black’s pawn takes d4-pawn (3...cxd4).
- White’s Knight takes d4-pawn (4.Nxd4).
- Black attacks e4-pawn by moving his Knight three squares (4...Nf6).
- White defends e4-pawn by moving his Knight three squares (5. Nc3).
- Black replies by moving his g-pawn one square (5...g6). He wants to fianchetto his Bishop on g7.
Take a look at the moves below:
Why Play The Sicilian Dragon?
The Sicilian Dragon can be a very aggressive and sharp defense, that is also a very safe way to defend.
The main reason to play the Sicilian Dragon defense is to protect your king with a minor piece and put your bishop on the longest diagonal of the board.
Not only do you defend safely defend your King, you can also get a ton of active play if the center opens up (pawns are traded off).
Like the King’s Indian Defense, Black gets a safe king, and also the ability to transform the bishop defending the King for a super strong one later, by exchanging pawns off in the center.
With the Sicilian Dragon, you want to open up the center (exchange pawns off) for your dark squared bishop.
If you get into a closed position (pawns stuck in center), you just need to open up the position eventually to vastly improve your kingside bishop.
Every move explained
Yugoslav Attack
How To Reach It
The Yugoslav Attack of the Sicilian Dragon appears on the board after the following moves:
- e4 c5
- Nf3 d6
- d4 cxd4
- Nxd4 Nf6
- Nc3 g6
- Be3
You can see the moves here:
Why play the Yugoslav Attack
The Yugoslav Attack is the most important line of the Dragon variation of the Sicilian Defense.
The main idea is to push h4-h5 to be able to attack the g6 pawn.
This can ultimately open up the kingside and make way for the rook on h1.
White generally will castle queenside to put more pressure on the semi-open d file with the queen and rook as seen in the image above.
White's Moves
Play f3
The point of White's last move is to protect the e4 pawn and to stop Black from playing ...Ng4 and trading for White's dark-squared bishop.
Qd2 — 0-0-0
White generally castles Queenside to put more pressure on the semi-open d file with the queen and rook and protect his King.
Black's moves
Castle Kingside to Protect the King
Black should castle Kingside to protect his King.
Pressure the Queenside
Putting the rook on c8 pressures the queenside and also preparing a discovered attack on White's bishop.
Every move explained
Classical Variation
How To Reach It
The Classical Variation of the Sicilian Dragon appears on the board after the following moves:
- e4 c5
- Nf3 d3
- d4 cxd4
- Nxd4 Nf6
- Nc3 g6
- Be2
You can see the moves here:
Why play the Classical Variation?
The Classical Variation, 6. Be2, is the second most common White attack behind the Yugoslav Attack.
- White wants to castle kingside and attack Black’s Kingside.
- Black wants to fianchetto his bishop and castle Kingside. Black also wants to get a solid pawn-structure (Try not to move your pawns!).
White's Moves
Castle Kingside to Protect the King
White should castle Kingside to protect his King.
Support Bishop with Queen
Queen to d2 is a strong move.
White is backing up the bishop so the bishop can go down to h6 and coordinate his pieces towards Black’s castle position.
Black's moves
Put bishop on long diagonal
You want your bishop to control the long a1-g7 diagonal from the side. This bishop not only defends the King, but can become a very strong piece if the center pawns are exchanged off the board.
Nc6, Castle and Qc8
Putting the Knight on c6 controls the d4-square and also gives the Knight some squares to jump to (e5 or b4).
Black doesn’t put the Knight on d7 because he wants to put the bishop on e6in the future (and the Knight would block the path)
Then, Black castles Kingside (to protect his King) and plays ...Be6, Qc8 to control the g4-square and prepare an attack on the White’s Kingside.
Every move explained
Levenfish Attack
How To Reach It
The Levenfish Attack of the Sicilian Dragon appears on the board after the following moves:
- e4 c5
- Nf3 d6
- d4 cxd4
- Nxd4 Nf6
- Nc3 g6
- f4
You can see the moves here:
Why play the Levenfish Attack
It is not currently very common in the highest levels in chess.
In the Levenfish, you can get a nasty attack if Black rushes Bg7, since e5 really breaks his position apart.
Against the mainline 6...Nc6, there's probably nothing better than 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5, heading for an early endgame.
The Main idea is to stop Black from playing...Bg7.
White's Moves
The trap
White plays e5 to stop Black from playing...Bg7 too early (since if he plays ...Bg7 too early, lots of opening traps can occur).
Castle Kingside to Protect the King
White should castle Kingsite to protect his King.
Black's moves
Put Knight on f6 before Bishop on g7
Black needs to put his Knight on f6 before putting his Bishop on g7.
If he puts his bishop first, White can put a lot of pressure on the center with e5.
Levenfish, Black, d6xe5
If White still wants to play e5, Black should take it. He can get a very good position. Black wants to fianchetto his Bishop, castle Kingside and, probably, get a passed pawn.
Related Articles
Visual Guide to Every Chess Opening
Get The Visual Guide to All Chess Openings Cheat Sheet
These Cheat Sheet will give you every plan for each opening.
Click here to see an example.
We will send all new cheat sheets as they are created to your email. (You can expect to receive a new cheat sheet every three days.)