Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Bernard Defense
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Nb3 Be6 10. f4 Na5 11. f5 Bc4 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. cxd3 d5
14. Nxa5+0.59
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Bernard Defense (B74), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Nb3 Be6 10. f4 Na5 11. f5 Bc4 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. cxd3 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 14. Nxa5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.59).
Top engine moves
- +0.5914. Nxa5 Qxa5 15. fxg6 fxg6 16. e5 Nd7 17. d4 Rxf1+ 18. Qxf1 a6
- −0.1414. fxg6 Nxb3 15. gxf7+ Kh8 16. axb3 d4 17. e5 dxe3 18. exf6 Bxf6
- −0.3614. Bf2 dxe4 15. dxe4 Qxd1 16. Raxd1 Nc4 17. Bc5 Nxb2 18. Rb1 Nd7
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Bernard Defense?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Nb3 Be6 10. f4 Na5 11. f5 Bc4 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. cxd3 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 14. Nxa5 for White, continuing Qxa5 15. fxg6 fxg6 16. e5 Nd7 17. d4 Rxf1+ 18. Qxf1 a6. White is slightly better (+0.59). The next best moves are 14. fxg6 (−0.14) and 14. Bf2 (−0.36).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Bernard Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.59: 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, Classical Variation, Bernard Defense?
B74. 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+).