Originally posted by Blitz00Make sure you know what you're doing. Otherwise mediocre players will crush you thanks to a slight inaccuracy.
I was wondering what was the best book in your opinion. I have started playing the Sicilian Dragon and I like it had pretty good success with it. Any advice on it the Sicilian defense or the Dragon would be most appreciated. thanks.
However if you know what you are doing you should do fine. Here's a game I played against Alapinto as practice in the dragon.
Game 965485
He didn't give an inch and there were desperate moments but I managed to force a draw in the end.
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Originally posted by Blitz00The best way I've found to attack the Dragon is to castle Queenside and advance my Kingside Pawns; especially the h Pawn. Keep an eye on this possibility and be ready to deal with it.
I was wondering what was the best book in your opinion. I have started playing the Sicilian Dragon and I like it had pretty good success with it. Any advice on it the Sicilian defense or the Dragon would be most appreciated. thanks.
The game Xanthos linked shows this very idea in action. One thing White can do to stop the ...h5 push is to develop his QB to e3, then the Q to d2, and then push the e3 B to h6, locking Black's hP in place and preventing Black from pushing it in defense.
Originally posted by AThousandYoung1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.Bh6
The best way I've found to attack the Dragon is to castle Queenside and advance my Kingside Pawns; especially the h Pawn. Keep an eye on this possibility and be ready to deal with it.
The game Xanthos linked shows this very idea in action. One thing White can do to stop the ...h5 push is to develop his QB to e3, then the Q to d2, and then push the e3 B to h6, locking Black's hP in place and preventing Black from pushing it in defense.
You mean this line? Actually I'm quite happy to play on in this situation. There are some nasty traps for white to avoid and in the line that is commonly given as equal I believe I've found better play for black.
12. ... Bxh6 13. Qxh6 Rxc3 14. bxc3 a5 15. a3 (15. a4 leads to an unclear position with chances for both sides) a4 16. Ba2 Qa5 etc.
If you are interested in more PM me.
Originally posted by XanthosNZI was not referring to that specific line. It's not one I ever find myself in exactly (I don't play f3), but it does illustrate some of the themes I was describing. However the Rook sac on c3 put White's Kingside attack on hold and is not something I have personally experienced on the board. Thanks for posting the line; it's interesting. Blitz, you might want to take a look at the line Xanthos submitted because it shows how one might deal with the attacking pattern I mentioned earlier.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.Bh6
You mean this line? Actually I'm quite happy to play on in this situation. There are some nasty traps for white to avoid and in the line that is commonly given as equal I believe I've found better play for black.
12. ... Bxh6 13. Qx ...[text shortened]... ion with chances for both sides) a4 16. Ba2 Qa5 etc.
If you are interested in more PM me.
Originally posted by AThousandYoungThe exchange sac on c3 is actually a very common line in the Dragon. Especially in the line I posted (or the same line but with h4 h5 inserted before Bh6 which is more common).
I was not referring to that specific line. It's not one I ever find myself in exactly (I don't play f3), but it does illustrate some of the themes I was describing. However the Rook sac on c3 put White's Kingside attack on hold and is not something I have personally experienced on the board. Thanks for posting the line; it's interesting. Blitz, ...[text shortened]... os submitted because it shows how one might deal with the attacking pattern I mentioned earlier.
Alright thanks everyone that posted on this. I am interested in starting to play the Dragon. I havent played it in any OTB games yet but have started using it on real time games over the internet and had pretty good success with it. I like it for its aggression and ability to just uncoil on your opponent.
As a primer, although not for heavy theory, 'Secrets of the Sicilian Dragon' by Gufeld and Schiller is quite useful, covers all the common tactics and plans for each side to watch for... although doesn't cover strict move order theory.
You would probably need something on the anti-sicilians too... I have 'beating the anti-sicilians' by Joe Gallagher, which is very good as it also deals with which lines to choose and transpositions to watch for based on whether you play 2...d6/e6/Nc6 in reply to e4 c5 Nf3