ECO B78 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Chinese Dragon

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 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rb8

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

11. h4+0.43

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Chinese Dragon (B78), 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 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rb8, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. h4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.43).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.4311. h4 b5 12. Ndxb5 Ne5 13. Be2 Qa5 14. Nd4 Qb4 15. Nb3 a5
  2. +0.4211. Bb3 Na5 12. h4 b5 13. Bh6 Bxh6 14. Qxh6 e5 15. h5 exd4
  3. +0.3811. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bxa7 Rb7 13. Be3 Qa5 14. Bh6 Bxh6 15. Qxh6 Qc5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Chinese Dragon?
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 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rb8, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. h4 for White, continuing b5 12. Ndxb5 Ne5 13. Be2 Qa5 14. Nd4 Qb4 15. Nb3 a5. White is slightly better (+0.43). The next best moves are 11. Bb3 (+0.42) and 11. Nxc6 (+0.38).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Chinese Dragon a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.43: 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, Yugoslav Attack, Chinese Dragon?
B78. 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+).