An illustrated introduction to the Dragon variant of the Sicilian Defense chess opening with theory, positions and possible moves.

The Dragon variant of the Sicilian Defense chess opening.

The main line to the Dragon variant of the Sicilian Defense chess opening is 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6. The move, that introduces the Dragon variant, is 5… g6. This move makes the black pieces form a dragon on the king side, which is where black has plans to fianchetto the dark-squared bishop with 6… Bg7, castle on king side and attack the centre on queen side.

Possible moves from the Dragon variant of the Sicilian Defense chess opening.

White can now decide between trying to castle on queen side wth 6. Be3 or 6. Bg5 or castle on king side with 6. Be2 or 6. Bc4. If white goes for 6. Be3, then black can continue with 6… Bg7 and thereby fianchetto the black-squired bishop. If white goes for 7. f3, the Yugoslav Attack is introduced. Black will almost always castle on king side on the next moves.

Possible moves from the Dragon variant of the Sicilian chess opening as white.

More about the Dragon variant of the Sicilian Defense chess opening.

You can replay the Dragon variant in the chapter Sicilian Defense – Dragon in my study on Lichess. You can learn more about the Dragon variation in Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1…c5/2. Nf3/2…d6/3. d4/3…cxd4/4. Nxd4/4…Nf6/5. Nc3/5…g6 in Chess Opening Theory on WikiPedia.