ECO B35 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Modern Bc4 Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 d6

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

8. f3+0.46

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Modern Bc4 Variation (B35), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 d6, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. f3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.46).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.468. f3 O-O 9. Qd2 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. O-O-O Qa5
  2. +0.298. h3 O-O 9. Qd2 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Qa5 11. O-O-O b5 12. Bxb5 Be6
  3. −0.018. Nxc6 bxc6 9. f3 Qa5 10. Qd2 O-O 11. O-O-O Be6 12. Bxe6 fxe6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Modern Bc4 Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 d6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. f3 for White, continuing O-O 9. Qd2 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. O-O-O Qa5. White is slightly better (+0.46). The next best moves are 8. h3 (+0.29) and 8. Nxc6 (−0.01).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Modern Bc4 Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.46: 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, Modern Bc4 Variation?
B35. 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+).