ECO B73 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Zollner Gambit

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Be3 Bg7 6. Be2 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. O-O d6 9. f4 Qb6 10. e5

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

10… dxe5−0.71

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Zollner Gambit (B73), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Be3 Bg7 6. Be2 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. O-O d6 9. f4 Qb6 10. e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 10… dxe5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.71).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.7110… dxe5 11. fxe5 Nxe5 12. Nf5 Qxb2 13. Nxe7+ Kh8 14. Bd4 Qb4 15. Bxe5
  2. +0.1010… Ng4 11. Bxg4 Bxg4 12. Qxg4 Nxd4 13. Rad1 h5 14. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 15. Rxd4
  3. +0.1310… Ne8 11. a3 Qa5 12. Bf3 Bd7 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. Nb4 Nxb4 15. axb4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Zollner Gambit?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Be3 Bg7 6. Be2 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. O-O d6 9. f4 Qb6 10. e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10… dxe5 for Black, continuing 11. fxe5 Nxe5 12. Nf5 Qxb2 13. Nxe7+ Kh8 14. Bd4 Qb4 15. Bxe5. Black is slightly better (−0.71). The next best moves are 10… Ng4 (+0.10) and 10… Ne8 (+0.13).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Zollner Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.71: black 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, Zollner Gambit?
B73. 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+).