ECO B74 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Maróczy Line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Nb3 Be6 10. f4 Na5

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

11. f5+0.27

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

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Maróczy Line (B74), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Nb3 Be6 10. f4 Na5, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. f5 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.27).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.2711. f5 Bc4 12. Kh1 Rc8 13. Bd3 Nxb3 14. axb3 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 a6
  2. +0.1511. Bf2 Rc8 12. e5 Ne8 13. Re1 Nc4 14. Bxc4 Rxc4 15. Nd4 Qc8
  3. +0.0511. Bd4 Rc8 12. f5 Bc4 13. Bxa7 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 Nc4 15. Bd4 Nxb2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Maróczy Line?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Nb3 Be6 10. f4 Na5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. f5 for White, continuing Bc4 12. Kh1 Rc8 13. Bd3 Nxb3 14. axb3 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 a6. The position is roughly equal (+0.27). The next best moves are 11. Bf2 (+0.15) and 11. Bd4 (+0.05).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Maróczy Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.27: 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, Maróczy Line?
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+).