ECO B70 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2

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

6… Bg7+0.26

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

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation (B70), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… Bg7 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.26).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.266… Bg7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 Bd7 10. Nb3 Ne5 11. a4
  2. +0.296… Nc6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. h3 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Bd7 11. Qe1
  3. +0.656… a6 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 Bg7 9. f3 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. O-O-O

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Be2
  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Be2 Nc6
  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Be2 Nc6 8. Nb3
  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Be3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… Bg7 for Black, continuing 7. Be3 Nc6 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 Bd7 10. Nb3 Ne5 11. a4. The position is roughly equal (+0.26). The next best moves are 6… Nc6 (+0.29) and 6… a6 (+0.65).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.26: 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: Dragon Variation, Classical 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+).