Sicilian Defense · B74

Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Bernard Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Nb3 Be6 10. f4 Na5 11. f5 Bc4 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. cxd3 d5

The pawns on d5 and e4 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure. Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. The g7 bishop is the whole point - it rakes the long diagonal while both sides race: White storms the h-file, Black sacrifices down the c-file.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... c5 Fights for d4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Sicilian Defense.
• 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5.
• 2... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the Hyperaccelerated Dragon.

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