Sicilian Dragon: 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.h3
Sicilian: Dragon, 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.h3
Definition
The sequence “Sicilian: Dragon, 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.h3” refers to a specific branch of the Dragon Variation in the Sicilian Defence. The opening begins with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 and reaches the position after the moves 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.h3. White develops the bishop to the dangerous a2–g8 diagonal (targeting f7 and pressuring Black’s king side) and follows up with h2–h3, a prophylactic move that keeps the bishop on c4 safe from a future …Ng4 fork while also preparing a possible g2–g4 pawn storm.
Typical Move Order
The most common path to reach the position is:
- e4 c5
- Nf3 d6
- d4 cxd4
- Nxd4 Nf6
- Nc3 g6
- Bc4 Bg7
- h3
Alternative transpositions are possible, e.g. 5…g6 first (the Dragondorf move order) or 6…Bg7 7.Bb3 h3 when White first retreats the bishop.
Strategic Ideas
- Prophylaxis against …Ng4. After 6.Bc4, Black would like to play …Ng4 to chase the bishop and gain tempi. With 7.h3, White removes that resource.
- Yugoslav-style pawn storm. By keeping f2–f3 in reserve White can later choose between g2–g4–g5 or f2–f4–f5 to attack the Dragon king.
- Central flexibility. The bishop on c4 eyes the d5 square; if Black plays the thematic …d5 break, exchanges may leave White with pressure along the diagonal.
- Black’s counterplay. Black usually castles short and counters on the c-file and the long diagonal (a1–h8). Plans include …Nc6–a5 (hitting the bishop), …Bd7, …Rc8 and …Qa5.
Historical Context
The Dragon was a favorite of many attacking players—Bent Larsen, Garry Kasparov and Veselin Topalov among them. The 6.Bc4 systems rose to prominence in the 1950s when players such as Mikhail Tal and Lev Polugaevsky explored alternatives to the main-line Yugoslav Attack (6.Be3). The move 7.h3 became a fashionable way to sidestep heavy theoretical debates after 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2.
Illustrative Games
- Anand – Topalov, Corus 2006. White uncorked the 7.h3 idea, castled long and launched g2–g4–g5. Black countered with …a5 and …a4, showing the double-edged nature of the line.
- Kasparov – Nunn, Amsterdam 1988. Although Kasparov normally preferred 6.Be3, here he chose 6.Bc4 and included h2–h3 early. He sacrificed an exchange on c3 and won with a hallmark kingside attack.
The diagram (after 10…Rc8) helps visualize the tension: White aims for g2–g4 while Black pressures the c-file.
Tactical Motifs & Traps
- Exchange sacrifice on c3. …Rxc3 is a classic Dragon shot. After bxc3 Nxe4 Black breaks up White’s center and exposes the king.
- Bishop sacrifice on h3. If White delays h2–h3 in other lines, …Bxh3 often crashes through; here, 7.h3 makes that impossible—one of the key selling points.
- Greek Gift themes. White’s Bc4 sometimes lands on f7 or h7 after a preparatory g4–g5–h4–h5 advance.
When to Choose This Line
Opt for 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.h3 if you:
- Enjoy sharp, attacking positions but want to dodge the heaviest 6.Be3 theoretical battles.
- Desire flexibility between f2–f3 setups and immediate g-pawn storms.
- Are comfortable meeting …d5 central breaks and playing with an exposed king on c1 (after long castling).
Interesting Facts
- The move 7.h3 earned the nickname “Anti-Chinese Dragon” since the original “Chinese Dragon” involved Black meeting 6.Bc4 with …Qa5; h2–h3 discourages that plan.
- Modern engines evaluate the line as roughly equal but highly unbalanced, making it a popular practical weapon at club level where memory of long forcing lines is rarer.
- In correspondence play, the reliability of Black’s queenside counterplay has held up well, but over-the-board results slightly favor White.