ECO B36 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Gurgenidze Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 d6

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

8. Be2+0.45

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Gurgenidze Variation (B36), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 d6, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Be2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.45).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.458. Be2 Bg7 9. Be3 Be6 10. O-O O-O 11. Qd2 Qa5 12. b3 Rfc8
  2. +0.448. Be3 Bg7 9. Be2 Be6 10. O-O O-O 11. Qd2 Qa5 12. b3 Rfc8
  3. +0.438. f3 Bg7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd2 Qa5 11. Rc1 Be6 12. b3 a6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Gurgenidze Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 d6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Be2 for White, continuing Bg7 9. Be3 Be6 10. O-O O-O 11. Qd2 Qa5 12. b3 Rfc8. White is slightly better (+0.45). The next best moves are 8. Be3 (+0.44) and 8. f3 (+0.43).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Gurgenidze Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.45: 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, Gurgenidze Variation?
B36. 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+).