How well do you know the Sicilian Dragon?

One of the newer ideas for Black in the Sicilian Dragon is to play his Q-bishop to e6. The idea behind this move is that if White takes the bishop with his knight then the pawn on e6 will control the important d5 square and the Black rook will put pressure on White's f3 pawn.

Here's an actual game between two Grandmasters who went into this line.



White's last move was Kb1. What should Black play?

I'd go for Rac8...intending Rxc3

Originally posted by Arrakis
One of the newer ideas for Black in the Sicilian Dragon is to play his Q-bishop to e6. The idea behind this move is that if White takes the bishop with his knight then the pawn on e6 will control the important d5 square and the Black rook will put pressure on White's f3 pawn.

Here's an actual game between two Grandmasters who went into this line.

[fen ...[text shortened]... 1PP/2N1BP2/PPPQ4/1K1R1B1R[/fen]

[b] White's last move was Kb1. What should Black play?[/b]

Originally posted by Hells Caretaker
I'd go for Rac8...intending Rxc3

Originally posted by Arrakis
One of the newer ideas for Black in the Sicilian Dragon is to play his Q-bishop to e6. The idea behind this move is that if White takes the bishop with his knight then the pawn on e6 will control the important d5 square and the Black rook will put pressure on White's f3 pawn.

Here's an actual game between two Grandmasters who went into this line.

[fen ...[text shortened]... 1PP/2N1BP2/PPPQ4/1K1R1B1R[/fen]

[b] White's last move was Kb1. What should Black play?[/b]

er... Nxf3 followed by ... Nxe4.

It's not new - perhaps it's a revival. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Be6 (Fischer-Mednis 1956) Larsen later played Be6 vs. Fischer, but as I recall that was after Bc4.

In the diagram, I'm guessing it's Nexg4, fxg4 Nxe4, Nxe4 Qxa2+ mates. Typically this sort of sac is used to quickly clear the long diagonal and destroy White's central pawns. But here it's homing in on the stuck defender on c3 (i.e., stuck defending a2).

A similar sac theme is ...Ne5xf3, Nd4xf3 Nf6xe4 or Bxg4.

Originally posted by adam warlock
At first glance 1. ... Nc4 to eliminate whites darksquare bishop and after it Rac8 for a possible exchange sacrifice.

Edit:Never mind this. Just saw the light squared bishop. 😳

Originally posted by DawgHaus
It's not new - perhaps it's a revival. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Be6 (Fischer-Mednis 1956) Larsen later played Be6 vs. Fischer, but as I recall that was after Bc4.

In the diagram, I'm guessing it's Nexg4, fxg4 Nxe4, Nxe4 Qxa2+ mates. Typically this sort of sac is used to quickly clear the long diag c3 (i.e., stuck defending a2).

A similar sac theme is ...Ne5xf3, Nd4xf3 Nf6xe4 or Bxg4.

Fossan vs. Chris Ward

12.........Nxf3
13. Nxf3...Nxe4
14. Qd3...Nxc3+
15. bxc3...Bxc3
0-1

Originally posted by tomtom232
...Nc4 is fine as well as ...Bc4 for example

if 1...Nc4 2.Bxc4 Bxc4 3.Nd5? Qxa2+ or 1...Bc4 Bxc4(Nd5? and you know what happens) Nxc4 and now the discovered attack is not a problem because the knight protects the queen.


EDIT: the best moves are shown in a post before mine though.

Originally posted by adam warlock
Oh I see it now. And Ice Cold's line seems to work too.

tomtom: True, Nxf3 is more forcing and better. If Nxg4, Nd5 Qxd2, Nxe7+ Kh8, Rxd2 (Bxd2? Nf2) Nxe3, Bd3 and I wonder if the Ne3 can be saved. I don't have a board with me so this is starting to get murky...

Originally posted by Ice Cold
Fossan vs. Chris Ward

12.........Nxf3
13. Nxf3...Nxe4
14. Qd3...Nxc3+
15. bxc3...Bxc3
0-1

nxf3 and nxe4 ><

Regardless, Tomtom seems to know the dragon better than me in practice 😛