ECO B34 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3

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

5… Bg7+0.32

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Variation (B34), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Bg7 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.32).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.325… Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Bb3 Ng4 9. Qxg4 Nxd4 10. Qh4
  2. +0.505… Nf6 6. Nxc6 dxc6 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Bc4 Ke8 9. a4 e5 10. a5
  3. +0.515… d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Nxd4 10. Bxd4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Bg7 for Black, continuing 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Bb3 Ng4 9. Qxg4 Nxd4 10. Qh4. White is slightly better (+0.32). The next best moves are 5… Nf6 (+0.50) and 5… d6 (+0.51).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.32: 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 Variation?
B34. 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+).