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. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
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+).