ECO B37 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Simagin Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Nc2 d6 7. Be2 Nh6

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

8. Be3+0.17

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Simagin Variation (B37), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Nc2 d6 7. Be2 Nh6, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. Be3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.17).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.178. Be3 f5 9. Qd2 Ng4 10. Bxg4 fxg4 11. Nc3 Qa5 12. Nd4 O-O
  2. +0.168. Nc3 f5 9. h4 fxe4 10. Nxe4 Bf5 11. Ng3 Bxc2 12. Qxc2 Qd7
  3. +0.138. h4 f5 9. Nc3 fxe4 10. h5 Bf5 11. g4 Be6 12. Nxe4 d5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Simagin Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Nc2 d6 7. Be2 Nh6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. Be3 for White, continuing f5 9. Qd2 Ng4 10. Bxg4 fxg4 11. Nc3 Qa5 12. Nd4 O-O. The position is roughly equal (+0.17). The next best moves are 8. Nc3 (+0.16) and 8. h4 (+0.13).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Simagin Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.17: the position is roughly equal. 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, Simagin Variation?
B37. 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+).