Theoria
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Sicilian Defense

Classical Variation, Dragon Transfer

B58positionaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4c5
  2. 2.Nf3d6
  3. 3.d4cxd4
  4. 4.Nxd4Nf6
  5. 5.Nc3Nc6
  6. 6.Be2Nxd4
  7. 7.Qxd4g6
119 games49%47%

A rare Classical Sicilian line in which Black trades knights on d4 against 6. Be2 and then plays ...g6, steering the game toward a Dragon setup.

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About the Dragon Transfer

Against the quiet 6. Be2, Black exchanges with 6...Nxd4, drawing White's queen to d4, and only then commits to the fianchetto with 7...g6. The result is a Dragon-style structure with one pair of knights already off. The usual replies are 8. Be3, 8. O-O and 8. Bg5. The line is rarely played, results in the available games are close to even, and the engine gives White a slight edge.

Popular continuations