ChessThe Dragon Sicilian is 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6. Black puts the bishop on g7, where it looks down the long diagonal all the way to a1. White's most common answer is to castle long and throw pawns at Black's king, so the two sides race in opposite directions. To try it out first, you can play chess online against the computer.
Moves and position
The first five moves are the Open Sicilian. The difference is Black's fifth move:
1. e4 c5Black's pawn eyes d4 from the side.2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4White opens the center, and Black trades the c-pawn for White's d-pawn.4... Nf6 5. Nc3Black's knight attacks e4, and White's knight defends it.5... g6Black pushes the g-pawn to get the bishop to g7.
One story says the black pawns on d6, e7, f7, g6 and h7 look like the Draco constellation, which is how the Dragon got its name. The bishop on g7 is the soul of the position: it guards Black's king and hits White's queenside from far away.
What White wants
- Castle long and push the h-pawn: White plays f3, Qd2, castles queenside, then pushes h4 and h5 to open the h-file straight at Black's king.
- Trade off the g7 bishop: White's bishop goes to h6 to swap off Black's bishop, and the black king loses its most important defender.
- Hold d5: don't let Black push d5 easily and open up the center.
What Black wants
- Counterattack on the queenside: Black castles short, puts a rook on the c-file and jumps the knights to c4 and e5 to go after White's king.
- The exchange sac on c3:
...Rxc3gives a rook for White's knight and wrecks the pawns in front of White's king. It's the classic Dragon idea. - Push d5: when the chance comes, push d5 in the center to make the g7 bishop even stronger.
Main lines
Yugoslav Attack: 9. Bc4
This is the most famous and sharpest way to meet the Dragon. White's plan is direct: h4 and h5 to open the h-file, Bh6 to trade off the bishop, then queen and rooks crash through. Black puts a rook on the c-file, jumps a knight to c4 and, when needed, gives the rook for the knight on c3. Neither side can afford to be slow, and one miscalculation ends the game.
Yugoslav Attack: 9. O-O-O d5
When White castles long first, Black uses the moment to push d5, meeting a wing attack with a central counter. Plenty of strong players choose this path: Black often gives a pawn to get the g7 bishop and the c-file working together against White's king.
Classical: 6. Be2
If White doesn't want a wild game, 6. Be2 and castling short like Black does the job. Both kings are safer, and the game becomes a slow setup battle. Black's g7 bishop is still strong, so this path is comfortable for Black.
Accelerated Dragon: 2... Nc6 4... g6
The Accelerated Dragon saves the d6 move, so the pawn is still on d7 and can later go to d5 in one step. White's most common answer is 5. c4, sealing off d5 with the c- and e-pawns, and the game turns slow and steady. If White plays 5. Nc3 as usual, Black can look for a quick d5, which is easier than in the normal Dragon.
A common trap: the knight jumps to g4 too early
Seeing White's bishop on e3, Black is tempted to play 6... Ng4 to hit it. But Black's bishop isn't out yet, and White has a pretty check:
The knight on g4 was protected by the bishop on c8. After the check, Black has to block with a piece. If the bishop blocks on d7, it's pinned and no longer guards g4. If the other knight blocks on d7, it cuts off the bishop's diagonal. Either way, White's queen takes the knight on g4. If Black blocks with the knight on c6 instead, it's even worse:
Remember this: before you've developed, don't send a knight to a square that only one piece protects. The correct order in the Dragon is 6... Bg7 first, then castle.
Who it suits
- Players who love opposite-side attacks: the kings are on different wings and it's a race to get there first. Great fun.
- Players who love long diagonals: the g7 bishop matters from start to finish, and learning to use it helps in other openings too.
- White players who want to avoid heavy theory:
6. Be2is calmer, with no long Yugoslav Attack lines to memorize.
Together with the Najdorf Variation, it's one of the two big main lines of the Open Sicilian. In the Dragon, the bishop sits on g7 and the plan is clear. In the Najdorf, Black plays a6 first and keeps more options.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Dragon?
One story says Black's pawn shape (d6, e7, f7, g6, h7) looks like the constellation Draco. Others say the bishop on g7 is like a dragon curled up in the corner, ready to breathe fire.
Is the Yugoslav Attack too dangerous for Black?
It's dangerous, but Black has plenty of counterplay. The key is getting a rook to the c-file fast, jumping a knight to c4 or e5, and giving the exchange with ...Rxc3 when needed. As long as the counterattack is quick enough, Black's chances are every bit as good as White's.
What's the difference between the Accelerated Dragon and the regular Dragon?
In the Accelerated Dragon, Black skips d6 and plays g6 right away, so the bishop comes out sooner and Black can later reach d5 in one move. The price is that White can play 5. c4 to clamp down on d5, which makes the game slower and quieter.
Try it yourself
Use the button below to start a game against the computer from the Dragon position. Try 6... Bg7 first, then castle, and don't let the knight jump out too early. For the full picture of the Sicilian, go back to the Sicilian Defense. To see other openings, go back to the openings guide. To try a different level, head home for a free chess game.
Play this opening against the computer