Sicilian Defense Open Dragon Levenfish Variation
Sicilian Defense
Definition
The Sicilian Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves 1. e4 c5. Black immediately contests the d4–square with a flank pawn rather than mirroring White’s central pawn. The opening is named after the Italian island of Sicily, where early analysis appeared in the 16th century manuscript “Il Puttino.”
How It Is Used
The Sicilian is the most popular response to 1. e4 from club level to elite play. Its asymmetrical pawn structure promises rich, tactical positions and winning chances for both sides. Black aims for …d5 or …e5 breaks, minority pawn storms on the queenside, or long-term endgame pressure against an isolated d-pawn, depending on the variation chosen.
Strategic and Historical Significance
- Adopted by every World Champion since Bobby Fischer, who famously said, “Openings played by champions must be sound.”
- Its branches (Najdorf, Dragon, Scheveningen, Sveshnikov, etc.) form an entire theoretical ecosystem, accounting for roughly 20 % of all master games after 1. e4.
- The first modern treatise was Louis Paulsen’s analysis (1860s), but accelerated in the 20th century by players such as Najdorf, Tal, and Kasparov.
Illustrative Example
Fischer – Spassky, World Championship 1972 (Game 6) began 1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6, entering the Najdorf. Fischer’s 6.Bc4!? surprised Spassky and led to one of the American’s most famous positional wins.
Interesting Facts
- The ECO (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings) devotes an entire volume (B20–B99) to the Sicilian.
- Computers confirm that, despite its complexity, the Sicilian scores better for Black (≈ 46 % wins) than 1…e5 at master level.
Open Sicilian
Definition
The term “Open Sicilian” denotes the main line arising after 1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6/…Nc6/…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4. White sacrifices a central pawn temporarily to gain rapid piece activity, yielding an open position with chances for both sides.
Usage in Chess
“Playing an Open Sicilian” usually means that White enters this structure (instead of sidelines like 2.c3 or 3.Bb5). Black chooses a system—Najdorf, Dragon, Classical, Sveshnikov, Paulsen, etc.—by deciding where to develop the king’s bishop and when to strike with …e5 or …d5.
Strategic Themes
- White: Piece activity, central control, attacks on the kingside via Bc4, Qf3, f4–f5, or the English Attack (Be3, f3, Qd2, long castle, g4).
- Black: Counter-attacks on the c-file and queenside pawn storms (…b5 …b4), exploiting the half-open c-file and pressure on e4.
Historical Note
Until the 1930s most masters avoided 4.Nxd4, fearing loss of a center pawn. Theoretical pioneers such as Alapin, Tarrasch, and later Reshevsky demonstrated its soundness, leading to the modern explosion of Sicilian theory.
Example Micro-Game
This bare-bones PGN shows the Open Sicilian skeleton: White knights on c3 & d4 versus Black knights on f6 & c6/a6, with open c- and d-files inviting future battles.
Trivia
- The majority of decisive top-level games beginning 1.e4 arise from Open Sicilians.
- Because of its complexity, many grandmasters specialize for decades in a single Sicilian sub-variation.
Dragon (Variation of the Sicilian Defense)
Definition
The Dragon arises after 1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6. Black fianchettoes the bishop on g7, breathing fire down the long a1–h8 diagonal—hence the mythical name coined by Fyodor Dus-Chotimirsky in 1901, who likened the diagonal’s pawn structure to the constellation Draco.
Usage and Main Plans
- Black: Accelerate development, castle short, strike with …d5 or queenside counter-play after …Rc8 …Qa5.
- White: The Yugoslav Attack (6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0-0-0) aims for Bh6 exchanges, h-pawn pushes, and mating nets on the h-file.
- Other weapons for White include the Classical 6.Be2, the Fianchetto 6.g3, and the Levenfish 6.f4.
Strategic & Historical Significance
The Dragon is one of the sharpest openings in chess. World Champions from Alekhine to Kasparov employed it, but its theoretical reputation swings wildly with each new computer discovery. In the 1950s, Yugoslav masters Gligorić, Matanović, and Ivkov popularized the Yugoslav Attack, prompting Botvinnik to call the Dragon “practically refuted”—a claim later disproven by modern analyses.
Famous Encounter
Kasparov – Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999, transposed to an Accelerated Dragon; Kasparov sacrificed three pieces to win in spectacular fashion—one of the finest games of the 20th century.
Interesting Facts
- Books on the Dragon often exceed 500 pages, yet grandmasters still uncover novelties in move 30-plus.
- Magnus Carlsen periodically revives the opening in rapid/blitz events to sidestep heavy Najdorf theory.
Levenfish Variation (against the Dragon)
Definition
The Levenfish Variation is a direct attacking system versus the Sicilian Dragon, introduced by Soviet master Grigory Levenfish. It continues from the Dragon move-order: 1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.f4.
How It Is Used
With 6.f4, White eschews piece development to seize space, prepare e4–e5, and blunt Black’s bishop on g7. Black has several replies:
- 6…Bg7 7.e5 dxe5 8.fxe5 Nd5, leading to complex tussles for the d4– and e5–squares.
- 6…Nc6, ignoring the pawn thrust and banking on piece activity.
- 6…Qa5, pinning the c3-knight and provoking 7.Nb3.
Strategic and Historical Context
Popular in the 1930s Soviet championships, the line declined when Yugoslav Attack theory blossomed. However, engines give 6.f4 fresh venom, making it a surprise weapon even at grandmaster level. It avoids the Yugoslav’s heavy theory while retaining a direct kingside assault.
Sample Continuation
After 8…Nd5, Black’s knight sits gloriously in the center, yet White has pressure along the f-file and chances to launch h2-h4-h5.
Interesting Tidbits
- Grigory Levenfish was a noted endgame composer; it is fitting that his opening idea pivots on pawn structure finesse.
- Anand employed the Levenfish twice in 1993, scoring 1½/2 against grandmaster opposition and sparking a brief revival.
- Because 6.f4 appears on move six, some blitz specialists call it “the Dragon Slayer Lite.”