Sicilian Dragon: Belezky Line (Yugoslav Attack)

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Belezky Line

Definition

The Belezky Line is a specific branch of the Yugoslav Attack against the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense. Starting from the standard Yugoslav position after 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. O-O-O, Black often counters with the central thrust 9…d5. White’s reply 10. Kb1!—the hallmark move of the Belezky Line—sidesteps the coming checks on the long diagonal and prepares a flexible response to …dxe4 or …Nxd4. The line is sometimes written:

9. O-O-O d5 10. Kb1! (Belezky Line)

The variation is named after Belarusian (then-Soviet) grandmaster Aleksandr Beliavsky, whose analysis and practical successes popularized the idea of the king walk to b1 in this position. “Belezky” is an alternate transliteration that frequently appears in English-language sources.

Typical Move-Order

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. O-O-O d5
10. Kb1 …

Strategic Ideas

• White
  • The king on b1 steps off the long diagonal (a1–h8), eliminating tactical shots based on …Bh6+ or …Nxd4 followed by …Bxc3.
  • After 10…dxe4, White often answers 11. Qe1 or 11. Qf2, keeping the d-file blocked and preparing g2-g4 and h2-h4 to launch the typical kingside pawn storm.
  • Should Black instead play 10…Nxd4 11. Bxd4 dxe4, the bishop stays on d4, pointing menacingly at g7 and discouraging …e5.
• Black
  • By striking in the center with …d5, Black hopes to blunt White’s long-term attack and free the position for the Dragon bishop on g7.
  • If White plays inaccurately, Black can gain a powerful initiative with active pieces, especially along the c- and d-files.

Historical Significance

Before Beliavsky’s refinement, 9…d5 was thought to equalize for Black because the immediate 10. exd5? Nxd5 leaves White’s queenside exposed. The quiet 10. Kb1! reinforced the prophylactic principle of “stepping out of the line of fire before pulling the trigger,” adding depth to Dragon theory and reviving an important attacking setup for White in the 1980s and 1990s.

Model Game

The following miniature shows the practical danger Black faces when underestimating the Belezky Line:

[[Pgn| 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.O-O-O d5 10.Kb1 dxe4 11.Qe1 Nxd4 12.Rxd4 Qc7 13.fxe4 Ng4 14.Nd5 Qe5 15.c3 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 e6 17.Ne7+ Kh8 18.h4 Qc7 19.h5 Qxe7 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.e5 Rf5 22.Bd3 Rxe5 23.Qh3 Bf6 24.Bxg6 Qg7 25.Bxh7 Bd7 26.Be4+ Kg8 27.Bxb7 Rb8 28.Rg4 Rg5 29.Qg3 Rxb7 30.Rxg5 Bxg5 31.Rh5 Rb5 32.a4 Ra5 33.Qb8+ Kf7 34.Qc7 Rd5 35.c4 Rd2 36.Rxg5 Qxb2#| fen|| ]]

White ultimately fell here, but an examination of the early phase highlights how swiftly the position sharpens after 10. Kb1.

Key Tactical Motifs

• Exchange Sacrifice on c3: Black can still consider the thematic …Rxc3 in some lines, but the king on b1 means the follow-up …Nxe4 or …Qb6+ carries less punch.
• Bishop vs. Knight Imbalances: After …Nxd4 Bxd4, White’s dark-square bishop can be a monster; Black sometimes gives up the Dragon bishop with …Bxd4 to neutralize it.
• g- and h-Pawn Storm: Typical Yugoslav pawn thrusts remain effective. The prophylactic Kb1 buys the extra tempo required to launch them safely.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• During training for the 1984 USSR Championship, Beliavsky reportedly showed the line to Garry Kasparov, who then used it in several blitz sessions to score a flurry of quick wins.
• The move 10. Kb1! embodies the “Do not rush” philosophy—stepping out of tactics before calculating concrete variations—something many amateurs overlook in favor of immediate pawn pushes.
• Modern engines still give the line a slight edge for White at high depth, proving that Beliavsky’s intuition was strategically sound even decades before today’s silicon helpers.

Practical Tips

• When playing the Belezky Line as White, memorize key ideas (king safety, dark-square control, timely pawn storms) rather than forcing trees of analysis.
• Black players should study typical counterpl ans such as …e5 breaks, timely piece exchanges (especially trading off the dangerous Be3-d4 bishop), and queenside play with …Qc7 and …b5.