Accelerated Dragon

Play as BlackDefence

Black plays ...g6 early, aiming to meet the Maroczy bind with active pieces.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Bb3 d6

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... c5 — The Sicilian: fight for the d4 square from the side.
3. 2. Nf3 — Brings the knight into the game.
4. 2... Nc6 — Brings the knight into the game.
5. 3. d4 — Open the center: White is happy to trade a wing pawn for the center pawn.
6. 3... cxd4 — Takes the pawn on d4.
7. 4. Nxd4 — Takes the pawn on d4.
8. 4... g6 — The Accelerated Dragon: fianchetto at once, before ...d6.
9. 5. Nc3 — Brings the knight into the game.
10. 5... Bg7 — Brings the bishop into the game.
11. 6. Be3 — Brings the bishop into the game.
12. 6... Nf6 — Brings the knight into the game.
13. 7. Bc4 — Brings the bishop into the game.
14. 7... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
15. 8. Bb3 — Retreat the bishop so it stays on the diagonal and out of harm.
16. 8... d6 — Free the bishop and support the center.

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• French Defense
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Scandinavian Defense
• Pirc Defense

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