Chess Opening Secrets Revealed*: Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Dragon Part I

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
Line

What's the game plan for White?

White's focus is a kingside attack formulated
around the following ideas:

* Moving the bishop on e3 to h6, where it can
capture the bishop on g7. If Black's bishop
takes on h6, White's Queen can recapture, and,
subsequently work with the h1 rook to attack
the h-file, once that file is opened up.
* Playing h2-h4-h5 so as to tempt ... Nf6xh5.
Thus, White opens up the h-file and enables
g2-g4 with gain of time. If Black doesn't play
... Nf6xh5, White can always play a timely
h5xg6, and still get the use of an open h-file.
Additionally, if White's bishop is still on the
a2-g8 diagonal, where it pins the f7 pawn to the
King, Black is forced to respond to h5xg6 with
... h7xg6. Thereafter, g6 is open to attack.
* Moving the c3 knight to d5, where it will take
the knight on f6, thus eliminating a key
defender of h7.

Once the h-file is opened up by the h2-h4-h5
maneuver, and the g7 bishop and f6 knight are
eliminated by Be3-h6-Bxg7 and Nc3-d5-Nxf6,
White threatens to bring his Queen to h6 and
mate Black on the h7 or h8 square.

If Black impedes the above strategy by ... h5,
White can always try to play for a timely e4-e5
central break.

What's the game plan for Black?

Black needs to mount a queenside attack by:

* Playing ... Nc6 and ... Bd7, as per move 8 and 9.
* Posting the c6 knight on c4 via ... Nc6-e5-c4.
* Taking control of the half open c-file by
playing ... Rac8 or ... Rfc8. Rfc8 is usually
preferable because it allows the g7 bishop to
withdraw to h8, after White plays Be3-h6. Also,
a rook on c8 facilitates ... Nc6-e5-c4 because
it prevents an unchallenged Bxc4.
* Developing the Queen to a5 or c7. From a5 the
Queen eyes a2 and c3 and from c7 it adds to the
build up of pressure along the half open c-file.
* Advancing ... a7-a6-a5-a4 and ... b7-b5-b4 in
order to augment the g7 bishop.

* Black also needs to push ... h7-h5 in response
to h4. The idea is to slow down White's attack.

* In some instances, Black can exchange the
rook on c8 for the knight on c3 in an
effort to undermine White's pawn center.
After the exchange sacrifice, Black has
... Nf6xe4, attacking the c3 pawn and the
Queen on d2.

Also available:
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Najdorf Variation) Part I
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/01/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Najdorf Part II
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicili_115316520058364198.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Najdorf Part III
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicilian-najdorf.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Najdorf Part IV
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicilian-najdorf_17.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Najdorf Part V
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense_23.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Accelerated Fianchetto)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Keres Attack) Part I
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-sicilian.html
Chess: Understanding the Smith Morra Gambit
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-smith-morra-gambit.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Richter
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-sicilian-richter.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Sveshnikov Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Sozin Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/01/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense_30.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Löwenthal Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense_23.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense_22.html

1 e4

Exerts influence over the d5 and f5 squares.
Also opens up a diagonal for the f1 bishop
and Queen.

1 ... c5

Controls b4 and d4. Additionally, the Queen gets
breathing space along the a5-d8 diagonal.

2 Nf3

Mobilizing a piece and preparing for d4; White wants
to challenge Black's claim to that central square.

2 ... d6

Shielding e5 from a prospective e4-e5 advance.
Please remember, the acquisition of e5 is a
critical theme for the defense. This move
also opens up a diagonal for the c8 bishop.

3 d4

3 ... cxd4

By trading his c-pawn for White's d-pawn, Black guarantees pressure down the half open c-file
and chances to mold his central pawn majority
into a strong center.

4 Nxd4

In return, White gets a developmental lead,
the half open d-file and an edge in space.

4 ... Nf6

Developing a piece with attack; the e4 pawn
is now threatened.

5 Nc3

So White protects it.

5 ... g6

Initiating the Dragon Variation of the
Sicilian Defense.

Black is preparing to develop the bishop to g7,
where it will scope out the a1-h8 diagonal.

6 Be3

Reinforcing d4.

6 Be2
6 g3
6 Bc4
6 f4
6 Bg5
6 f3
6 h3
6 h4

6 ... Bg7

With hopes of seeing action along the a1-h8 diagonal,
once the f6 knight is developed elsewhere.
6 ... Ng4 would be an error in view of 7 Bb5+!
7 ... Bd7/Nd7 8 Qxg4.

6 ... Nc6
6 ... a6

7 f3

Protecting the bishop on e3 from 7 ... Ng4,
now that 8 Bb5+ fails to 8 ... Kf8!, and,
setting up for g2-g4.

7 Bc4
7 Be2
7 h3
7 Qd2

7 ... O-O

Assigning the king to safety.

7 ... Nc6
7 ... a6
7 ... Nbd7
7 ... Bd7

8 Qd2

8 Bc4
8 g4

8 ... Nc6

8 ... d5
8 ... Be6
8 ... Bd7
8 ... a6

9 Bc4

9 O-O-O
9 g4
9 h4
9 Nb3

9 ... Bd7

9 ... Nd7
9 ... Qa5
9 ... a5
9 ... Na5
9 ... Nxd4
9 ... Qc7
9 ... a6
9 ... Ne5

10 O-O-O

10 h4
10 Bb3
10 g4
10 Nde2
10 Nxc6

10 ... Rc8

10 ... Ne5
10 ... Rb8
10 ... Na5
10 ... Qc7
10 ... Nxd4
10 ... Qb8

10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 a4 Rb4 19 hxg6 hxg6
20 Rh4 b5 21 Nxb5 Qc4 22 Nc3 Qc6.

10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 a4 Rb4 19 hxg6 hxg6
20 Rh4 b5 21 Nxb5 Qc4 22 Rdh1 Rxa4 23 Qg5 Qc6.

10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 a4 Rb4 19 hxg6 hxg6
20 Rh4 b5 21 Nxb5 Qb7 22 Rdh1 Rxa4 23 Nc3 Rb4 24 Nd5.

10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 a4 Rb4 19 hxg6 hxg6
20 Rh4 Rc8 21 Rdh1 Bc4 22 g3 e5 23 Be3 Nh5 24 Qh2.

10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 a4 Rb4 19 hxg6 hxg6
20 Rh4 Bc4 21 Rdh1.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 a4 Rb4 19 hxg6 hxg6
20 Rh4 Bxb3 21 cxb3 Rxb3.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 a4 Rb4 19 hxg6 hxg6
20 Nb5/ 20 Qf2.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 a4 b5 19 Nxb5 Qb8
20 Nc3 Rb4 21 hxg6 hxg6 22 Rh4/ 22 Bxf6/ 22 Nd5.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 a4 b5 19 Nxb5 Qb8
20 h6 Bh8.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 a4 b5 19 axb5 a4.
10 ... Qa5 11. Bb3 Rfc8 12. h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 a4 Nxh5 19 Bxg7 Kxg7
20 g4 Nf6 21 Qh6+ Kh8/ 21 ... Kg8.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 hxg6 hxg6 19 a4 Rb4/
19 ... b5/ 19 ... Rc8.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Be6 17 h5 Rc8/ 17 ... Nxh5.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bd4 Bc6/ 16 ... Rc8/ 16 ... e5.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 h5 Rxc3 17 Qxc3 Qxc3 18 bxc3 Nxh5 19 Bd4 Be6
20 Rhe1 Nf6 21 e5 dxe5 22 Bxe5 Nd5 23 Kb2 Rc8.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 h5 Rxc3 17 Qxc3 Qxc3 18 bxc3 Nxh5 19 Bd4 Nf6/ 19 ... f6/ 19 ... Rc8.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 h5 Rxc3 17 bxc3 Nxh5 18 Bd4 Nf6 19 Rhe1.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 h5 Rc8 17 hxg6 fxg6 18 e5 Rxc3 19 exf6 Rxe3
20 fxg7 Re5 21 g4 Qc4 22 Nd4 Qf7 23 Rxh7 Kxh7.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 h5 Rc8 17 e5.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 g4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 Nd4 Rxc3 19 Nxe6 fxe6
20 Qxc3 Qxc3 21 bxc3 Nd7 22 Bd4 Rf8 23 Rdf1 g5 24 h6.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 g4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 hxg6 fxg6 19 Bd4 a4
20 Bxf6 exf6 21 Nd5 Qd8 22 Nd4 Bf7 23 Qh2 h6 24 Ne3.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 g4 Be6 17 h5 a5 18 hxg6 fxg6 19 Bd4 a4
20 Bxf6 Bxf6 21 Nd5 Bxd5 22 Qxd5+ Kg7 23 Rxh7+ Kxh7
24 Qf7+ Kh6 25 f4.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 g4 Rc8 17 h5 Bxg4 18 fxg4 Nxe4 19 Qg2/ 19 Nxe4/ 19 Qd5.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bh6 Bxh6 17 Qxh6 Rxc3 18 bxc3 Qxc3.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qc7 16 Bh6 Bh8 17 h5 Rxc3 18 bxc3 Be6 19 hxg6 fxg6
20 Be3 a5.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qa6 16 e5/ 16 h5/ 16 Bd4/ 16 Bh6.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qd8 16 Bh6/ 16 e5/ 16 g4/ 16 h5.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 Nb3 Qe5 16 Bd4 Qe6 17 h5/ 17 g4.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4
15 g4/ 15 h5.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 Kb1 b5/ 13 ... Rc5.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Ne5 13 h5/ 13 g5/ 13 Nde2/ 13 Bh6.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 h4 Qe5/ 12 ... h5.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Rfc8 12 Kb1/ 12 g4.
10 ... Qa5 11 Bb3 Ne5/ 11 ... Rac8/ 11 ... Qa6.
10 ... Qa5 11 h4/ 11 Kb1/ 11 g4/ 11 Nb3.

11 Bb3