Sicilian Accelerated Fianchetto: Modern 7.Bc4
Sicilian: Accelerated Fianchetto
Definition
The Accelerated Fianchetto (often called the “Accelerated Dragon”) is a branch of the Sicilian Defence characterised by Black playing an early …g6 and …Bg7 without first inserting …d6. The canonical move-order is:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6
How it is Used
- Set-up: Black fianchettos the king’s bishop and keeps the d-pawn on d7 so that the freeing break …d7–d5 can occasionally be played in one move, saving a tempo compared to the traditional Dragon.
- Typical follow-up: …Bg7, …Nf6, …0-0 and, at a favourable moment, …d5. If White prevents …d5, the game often transposes to normal Dragon structures.
- Piece Play: The g7-bishop puts long-range pressure on the central and queenside light squares, especially d4 and b2.
Strategic & Historical Significance
The idea of accelerating the fianchetto was analysed by Russian theoreticians in the 1950s and popularised by GMs such as Geller and Breyer. Modern grandmasters—including Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura—use it regularly in classical and rapid play because:
- It avoids some of the most forcing, heavily analysed “Yugoslav Attack” lines of the regular Dragon.
- Black keeps more flexibility in the centre.
- There are relatively few forced drawish lines, making it suitable for playing for a win with Black.
Representative Example
Below is a miniature illustrating the power of the …d5 break:
Interesting Facts
- The ECO codes for the Accelerated Fianchetto run from B34 to B39.
- Many scholastic databases show that club-level players score better with Black than with White in this variation—an unusual statistic for the Sicilian Defence.
- Because Black often plays …d7–d5, some authors jokingly call the line a “Sicilian that wants to be a Grünfeld.”
Modern Variation (7.Bc4)
Definition
Within the Accelerated Fianchetto, the Modern Variation arises after:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4
The move 7.Bc4 plants the bishop on the dangerous a2-g8 diagonal, eyeing f7 and d5. White postpones castling and signals aggressive intentions.
Usage in Practice
- For White: Create direct threats against f7, support an eventual f2–f4–f5 pawn storm, or drop the bishop back to b3 to keep the diagonal alive.
- For Black: Castle quickly, hit the knight on d4 or the bishop on c4, and prepare …d5 or …d6. The queen often goes to a5 or b6.
- Typical pawn structures: Dragon-style structures if …d6 is played, or Grünfeld-style structures after an early …d5.
Strategic Considerations
Because …d5 can come in a single move, 7.Bc4 is less dangerous for Black than the analogous 9.Bc4 line of the regular Dragon. White therefore tries to provoke concessions before …d5 is ready.
Example Game
Carlsen – Topalov, Bilbao Masters 2012
Carlsen steered the position into a slow-burn squeeze where Black never achieved the freeing …d5 and was eventually out-maneuvered in the endgame.
Trivia
- The term “Modern” here has nothing to do with the Modern Defence (1…g6 against 1.e4); it simply differentiates this 7.Bc4 idea from older lines with 7.f3.
- Because the bishop moves twice in the opening, engines initially give a small edge to Black—but practical results are roughly level.
7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 Qa5 — Specific Sub-Line
Definition
This continuation is one of Black’s most popular antidotes to the Modern Variation:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Bb3 Qa5
Purpose of the Moves
- 8…Qa5:
- Attacks the knight on d4 and indirectly pressures the c3-knight, thus discouraging an early Nb5 or Nxc6.
- Pins the bishop on b3 if White’s queen is still on d1, making …Nxe4 tactics possible.
- Prepares …d5 in several lines because the queen already eyes the d5 square.
- White’s Plan: Secure the centre with 9.0-0 or 9.f3, unpin the knight, and decide between queenside castling or a slower central build-up.
Strategic Themes
- Counter-punch: Black often sacrifices the b-pawn (…Qa5-b4) to open files for the rook on a8.
- Bishop Pair: By retreating Bc4-b3, White keeps the key dark-square bishop, offering long-term pressure on f7 and the a2-g8 diagonal.
- Timing of …d5: If Black achieves …d5 without concession, the position usually equalises. Failing that, Black must rely on tactical resources around the pinned d4-knight.
Illustrative Continuation
A frequently seen line:
9. O-O d6 10. h3 Bd7 11. Re1 Rfc8 12. Nf3 Ne5
The game remains double-edged: White keeps attacking chances on the kingside while Black seeks queenside counterplay.
Historical Example
Anand – Adams, Linares 1999
Anand gained a lasting edge but Adams defended superbly and held a draw after 54 moves.
Curiosities
- The queen sortie …Qa5 is so thematic that many correspondence players pre-input it as part of their opening books.
- In blitz, 8…Qa5!? allows deadly traps if White forgets the d4 pin and plays the natural 9.f3??, when 9…Nxe4! wins on the spot.
- ECO annotates this sub-line as B35.