ECO B72 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Grigoriev Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O

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

9… Ng4+0.47

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Grigoriev Variation (B72), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… Ng4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.47).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.479… Ng4 10. Bxg4 Bxg4 11. f3 Bd7 12. h4 Ne5 13. b3 h5 14. Bh6
  2. +0.479… Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Qa5 11. Kb1 Be6 12. a3 Rab8 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Nd5
  3. +0.589… Bd7 10. f3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Qa5 12. Bc4 b5 13. Bb3 b4 14. Bxf6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Grigoriev Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… Ng4 for Black, continuing 10. Bxg4 Bxg4 11. f3 Bd7 12. h4 Ne5 13. b3 h5 14. Bh6. White is slightly better (+0.47). The next best moves are 9… Nxd4 (+0.47) and 9… Bd7 (+0.58).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Grigoriev Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.47: 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, Grigoriev Variation?
B72. 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+).