ECO B39 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Breyer Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Ng4

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

8. Qxg4+0.64

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Breyer Variation (B39), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Ng4, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Qxg4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.64).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.648. Qxg4 Nxd4 9. Qd1 e5 10. h4 h5 11. Nd5 d6 12. Bg5 f6
  2. −0.388. Nc2 Nxe3 9. Nxe3 Qa5 10. Rc1 Rb8 11. Be2 d6 12. O-O O-O
  3. −0.448. Nxc6 Nxe3 9. Nxd8 Nxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Kxd8 12. c5 Rb8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Breyer Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Ng4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Qxg4 for White, continuing Nxd4 9. Qd1 e5 10. h4 h5 11. Nd5 d6 12. Bg5 f6. White is slightly better (+0.64). The next best moves are 8. Nc2 (−0.38) and 8. Nxc6 (−0.44).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Breyer Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.64: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Breyer Variation?
B39. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).