ECO B76 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Panov 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. g4

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

9… h5+0.55

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Panov Variation (B76), 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. g4, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… h5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.55).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.559… h5 10. h3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Qa5 12. a3 Be6 13. O-O-O Rab8 14. Kb1
  2. +0.599… Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Qa5 11. h4 h5 12. Be2 Be6 13. gxh5 Nxh5 14. Bxg7
  3. +0.669… Be6 10. Nxe6 fxe6 11. O-O-O d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Qxd5 14. Qxd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Panov 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. g4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… h5 for Black, continuing 10. h3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Qa5 12. a3 Be6 13. O-O-O Rab8 14. Kb1. White is slightly better (+0.55). The next best moves are 9… Nxd4 (+0.59) and 9… Be6 (+0.66).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Panov Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.55: 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, Panov Variation?
B76. 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+).