ECO B77 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Byrne Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 a5

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

10. a4+1.19

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Byrne Variation (B77), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 a5, Stockfish 18 recommends 10. a4 for White. White is clearly better (+1.19).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.1910. a4 Ne5 11. Bb3 Nfd7 12. O-O-O Nc5 13. h4 Nxb3+ 14. cxb3 h5
  2. +0.8210. a3 a4 11. O-O-O Qa5 12. h4 Bd7 13. Ba2 b5 14. Ncxb5 Qb6
  3. +0.8210. O-O-O a4 11. a3 Qa5 12. h4 Bd7 13. Ba2 b5 14. Ncxb5 Qb6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Byrne Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 a5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10. a4 for White, continuing Ne5 11. Bb3 Nfd7 12. O-O-O Nc5 13. h4 Nxb3+ 14. cxb3 h5. White is clearly better (+1.19). The next best moves are 10. a3 (+0.82) and 10. O-O-O (+0.82).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Byrne Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.19: white is clearly 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, Yugoslav Attack, Byrne Variation?
B77. 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+).