ECO B35 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Bc4 Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4

abcdefgh87654321
Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

7… Qa5+0.31

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Bc4 Variation (B35), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Qa5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.31).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.317… Qa5 8. f3 Qb4 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bb3 O-O 11. a3 Qb8 12. Qd2
  2. +0.417… O-O 8. Bb3 Qa5 9. f3 d5 10. exd5 Nb4 11. Qd2 Nbxd5 12. Nxd5
  3. +0.427… d6 8. f3 Qb6 9. Bb5 Qc7 10. Qd2 a6 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Bh6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Bc4 Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Qa5 for Black, continuing 8. f3 Qb4 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bb3 O-O 11. a3 Qb8 12. Qd2. White is slightly better (+0.31). The next best moves are 7… O-O (+0.41) and 7… d6 (+0.42).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Bc4 Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.31: 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, Modern Bc4 Variation?
B35. 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+).