Don Chess

Learn the Sicilian Dragon

Your bishop on g7 breathes fire down the long diagonal. Both sides go for the king – whoever is faster wins.

You play with Black. How you learn it with Don Chess: watch first, then play it with an arrow, then from memory – with spaced repetition until it sticks. Free, no sign-up.

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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.Bc4 Bd7 10.O-O-O

B78 · Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack

The position after the main line

The moves explained

Why is each move played? The explanations come from the opening trainer – there you play the moves yourself afterwards.

  1. 1.e4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e4.
  2. 1…c5 Fights for the centre from the side with the pawn on c5.
  3. 2.Nf3 Develops the knight to f3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  4. 2…d6 Supports the pawn on c5 – the centre stands firm.
  5. 3.d4 Attacks the pawn on c5 – the fight for the centre begins.
  6. 3…cxd4 Takes the pawn on d4.
  7. 4.Nxd4 Takes back on d4 – material is level again.
  8. 4…Nf6 Develops the knight to f6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  9. 5.Nc3 Develops the knight to c3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  10. 5…g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop goes to the long diagonal.
  11. 6.Be3 Develops the bishop to e3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  12. 6…Bg7 Develops the bishop to g7 – pieces out first, then attack.
  13. 7.f3 Supports the pawn on e4 – the centre stands firm.
  14. 7…O-O Castles: the king is safe and the rook joins the game.
  15. 8.Qd2 The queen comes to d2 and puts on pressure.
  16. 8…Nc6 Develops the knight to c6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  17. 9.Bc4 Develops the bishop to c4 – pieces out first, then attack.
  18. 9…Bd7 Develops the bishop to d7 – pieces out first, then attack.
  19. 10.O-O-O Castles: the king is safe and the rook joins the game.

Idea and plans

The idea

Black fianchettoes the bishop on g7, where it works along the long diagonal against b2 and White’s queenside.

Plan for White

In the Yugoslav Attack: Be3, f3, Qd2, long castling, then h4–h5 and trading the dragon bishop with Bh6.

Plan for Black

Rook to the c-file, the exchange sacrifice on c3, and a fast attack against White’s king.

Tip

The g7 bishop is the heart of the position – trading it weakens Black badly.

The 9 lines in the course

Grey: the moves shared with the main line. Bold: the move where the line leaves it.

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