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Sicilian, Dragon, Classical (B74)
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 Bg7
7 Be2 Nc6 8 O-O O-O 9 Nb3

Number of games in database: 1255
Years covered: 1903 to 2025
Overall record:
   White wins 31.9%
   Black wins 37.6%
   Draws 30.5%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Varlam Vepkhvishvili  23 games
P Thipsay  13 games
Alexander Galkin  12 games
Alexander Khalifman  8 games
Ponnuswamy Konguvel  7 games
Eduard Gufeld  7 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
Ragozin vs Veresov, 1945
Ragozin vs Taimanov, 1945
Kupreichik vs Tukmakov, 1985
V Rauzer vs Botvinnik, 1933
Spielmann vs O Bernstein, 1909
H Kokkoris vs Botvinnik, 1962
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 page 1 of 51; games 1-25 of 1,255  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. G Marco vs Maroczy 0-1311903Monte CarloB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
2. Spielmann vs F Duz-Khotimirsky 1-0411909St. PetersburgB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
3. Spielmann vs O Bernstein 0-1251909St. PetersburgB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
4. Capablanca vs D Robinson 0-1351909Simul, 22bB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
5. J W te Kolste vs M Marchand ½-½641917Algemeen Handelsblad /18B74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
6. S Mlotkowski vs E Gruer ½-½371918Off-hand GameB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
7. A G Conde vs M Marchand  1-0501919HastingsB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
8. A Larsson vs M Marchand  0-1611920Gothenburg BB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
9. W Schlage vs Saemisch 1-029192121. DSB KongressB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
10. C Ahues vs M Marchand  1-0401922Germany - NetherlandsB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
11. Reti vs Tartakower 1-0741924New YorkB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
12. Alekhine vs M Pinkus 1-0431924Blindfold simul, 26bB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
13. H Weenink vs M Lenglez  ½-½341925Netherlands - BelgiumB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
14. G Geiler vs I Kan  0-1411928Moscow-chB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
15. N Sorokin vs V Goglidze  0-1731928Ch Caucasian RepublicsB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
16. Saemisch vs Bogoljubov  ½-½671928Berlin BSGB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
17. Yates vs V Buerger  0-1561928British ChampionshipB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
18. L Steiner vs K Richter 0-1401928Berlin Cafe KoenigB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
19. O Kinnmark vs O Karlin  1-0441929Nordic Congress, GothenburgB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
20. J Torres Caravaca vs Menchik 1-0271929BarcelonaB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
21. L Roedl vs L Engels  1-0381930Roedl - EngelsB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
22. J Koksal vs Z Vecsey  0-1321930Kautsky mem7B74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
23. A Gromer vs P Soler  0-1351930Hamburg OlympiadB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
24. Yates vs Tartakower 0-1411930Hamburg OlympiadB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
25. E Straat vs J Montezinos  1-0231930VAS-ASCB74 Sicilian, Dragon, Classical
 page 1 of 51; games 1-25 of 1,255  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
Sep-15-04  Knight13: This opening is a well defender but not a good position for attacking.
Sep-16-04  OneArmedScissor: This is about the most passive way to take on the Dragon Sicilian.
Sep-16-04  Giancarlo: Easy to see by the scores. Pretty even statistics. To me Black looks like he has the more active position. I would think 9.nB3 isn't the best option. It takes away centralization of the knight.
Sep-17-04  Helloween: 9.Nb3 is a good solid move, preserving the Knight and controlling a5 and c5 while clearing the d-file. Svidler has espoused the Classical Dragon.

The variation was quite popular decades ago, back when 9...Be6 was played instead of 9...a5!. A main continuation is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Be2 Nc6 8.O-O O-O 9.Nb3 Be6 10.f4 Na5 11.f5 Bc4 12.Bd3! / , which this database shows has 7 wins for White and 2 draws out of 9 games.

Nowadays, Black usually prefers to play 9...a5 and find a Knight outpost on b4 after that square is weakened by 10.a4. Usually, Black gets equality and nice winning chances, although the positions are not too well-tested, and White's position is not entirely without any electricity, even against strong competition: for example Tseshkovsky vs Azmaiparashvili, 1985

Jan-14-05  redbullion01: "The Classical Variation gives rise to very much more strategic play than the Yugoslav Attack.... .....The Classical appeals to more positionally minded white players." -GM John Emms

from the book Starting Out: The Sicilian

Jun-23-05  waddayaplay: I think that the Yugoslav attack is sounder for white, reflecting itself in the stats also, but as someone who prefers playing the opocensky variation of the Najdorf this feels more at home.
Dec-28-07  Cactus: Actually, 9.Nb3 is neccasary because otherwise, black plays ...d5!, a very useful move.
Mar-30-17
Premium Chessgames Member
  WTHarvey: Here are 22 characteristic chess puzzles from the first 22 moves of B74 Sicilian Dragon games. http://www.wtharvey.com/b74.html Find the winning move.

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