Sicilian Dragon: 6.Be2 Bg7

Sicilian: Dragon

Definition

The Dragon is a highly tactical variation of the Sicilian Defence that arises after the moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6. Black fianchettoes the king’s-bishop on g7, its long diagonal resembling the tongue of flame of a mythical dragon—hence the romantic name.

Typical Move-Order

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 g6

The position is sometimes reached by transposition from Accelerated Dragon or Pirc move-orders.

Main Strategic Ideas

• Black’s Plan:
  • Pressure along the h8–a1 diagonal with the bishop on g7.
  • Break with …d5 or …b5 at the right moment to free the position.
  • Typical piece activity—rooks on c8 and d8, queen on a5 or c7—and counter-attack on the queenside.
• White’s Plan:
  • In the Yugoslav Attack (6.Be3 followed by f3, Qd2, 0-0-0, h4-h5) White castles long and storms the kingside.
  • In more positional schemes (6.Be2, 6.g3, 6.Bc4) White aims for central control and safer king placement.
• Tactical Motifs: The famous “exchange sacrifice” …Rxc3, sacrifices on g4, thematic pushes …d5 or …b5, and opposite-side castling races.

Historical Significance

The Dragon became popular in the mid-20^th century thanks to players like Miguel Najdorf, Gennadi Sosonko, and later the British “Dragon School” led by John Nunn and Nigel Short. Its sharpness produced many spectacular games, but modern engines have also revealed several forcing lines where Black must play with extreme accuracy.

Illustrative Game

Fischer – Reshevsky, U.S. Championship 1965 (shortened):

The game shows typical opposite-side castling, pawn storms, and an eventual breakthrough on the kingside.

Interesting Facts

• The name “Dragon” was first coined by the Russian master Fyodor Dus-Chotimirsky in 1901, comparing the g-bishop’s diagonal to the constellation Draco.
• Both Garry Kasparov and Magnus Carlsen used the Dragon occasionally in blitz, but rarely in classical games, citing its “knife-edge” theoretical status.
• The famous 1966 book “Chess Openings: The Sicilian Dragon” by David Levy was the first monograph devoted to a single variation.

6.Be2 Bg7 (Classical Variation of the Dragon)

Definition

After the standard Dragon move-order, the sequence 6.Be2 Bg7 marks the beginning of the Classical Variation. The full diagram position arises after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7.

How It Is Used

• White’s Idea: Develop calmly, castle short, and avoid the ultra-sharp Yugoslav Attack. By not committing the queen to d2 or the bishop to c4, White keeps the structure flexible, often aiming for f4 breaks, central play (c4, Be3, Qd2), or a positional squeeze on the d5-square.
• Black’s Idea: Continue with …O-O, …Nc6, and typical Dragon counterplay. The absence of an immediate White pawn storm allows Black slightly easier piece development.

Strategic and Historical Significance

Though considered less critical than the Yugoslav Attack, the Classical Variation has never been refuted. It attracted world champions such as Anatoly Karpov, who preferred strategic manoeuvring to wild complications. The line also served as a reliable “anti-theory” weapon before engines made the Yugoslav Attack lines more concrete.

Typical Continuations

1. 6…O-O 7.O-O Nc6 8.Be3 Bd7 9.Nb3 Rc8 10.f4—a flexible central build-up.
2. 6…O-O 7.O-O Nc6 8.Nb3 Be6 9.f4 Qb6+ 10.Kh1 Rfd8—Black prepares …d5.
3. Delayed castling: 6…Nc6 7.Be3 Bd7 8.Qd2—transposing to Richter-Rauzer-like structures.

Illustrative Mini-Game

Short – Nunn, London 1987 (excerpts):

The game demonstrates a typical manoeuvring battle where White keeps tension instead of launching an immediate pawn storm.

Practical Tips

• White players should be ready for long manoeuvres—don’t expect forced wins.
• Black should beware of e4–e5 breaks whenever the knight leaves f6 or the queen lands on b6.

Trivia & Anecdotes

• In Soviet literature the move 6.Be2 was sometimes nicknamed the “Karpov System” after Anatoly Karpov’s consistent use in the 1970s.
• Nigel Short scored several key wins with 6.Be2 against the Dragon during his 1993 World Championship run, citing “practical chances over theoretical duels.”
• Modern engines evaluate the position after 6.Be2 Bg7 as roughly equal (≈0.20), showing that both sides retain full play.