ECO B74 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Tartakower 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 Qc8

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

11. h3+0.08

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

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Tartakower 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 Qc8, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. h3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.08).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.0811. h3 a6 12. a4 Bxb3 13. cxb3 Qc7 14. Rc1 Qa5 15. Bc4 Qb4
  2. +0.0511. Kh1 Bg4 12. Qe1 Bxe2 13. Qxe2 Nd7 14. Bd2 a6 15. a4 Rb8
  3. +0.0411. Qe1 Rb8 12. Bd3 b5 13. Nxb5 Ng4 14. Nxa7 Nxa7 15. Bxa7 Bxb2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Tartakower 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 Qc8, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. h3 for White, continuing a6 12. a4 Bxb3 13. cxb3 Qc7 14. Rc1 Qa5 15. Bc4 Qb4. The position is roughly equal (+0.08). The next best moves are 11. Kh1 (+0.05) and 11. Qe1 (+0.04).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Tartakower Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.08: 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, Tartakower 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+).