ECO B70 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6

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

6. f3+0.56

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation (B70), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. f3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.56).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.566. f3 Nc6 7. Be3 h5 8. Qd2 Nxd4 9. Bxd4 Bh6 10. Qf2 Qa5
  2. +0.516. Be3 Nc6 7. f3 h5 8. Qd2 Nxd4 9. Bxd4 Bh6 10. Qf2 O-O
  3. +0.286. Nb3 Nc6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. f3 a6 9. Qd2 b5 10. a4 b4

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. f3 for White, continuing Nc6 7. Be3 h5 8. Qd2 Nxd4 9. Bxd4 Bh6 10. Qf2 Qa5. White is slightly better (+0.56). The next best moves are 6. Be3 (+0.51) and 6. Nb3 (+0.28).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.56: 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: Dragon Variation?
B70. 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+).