Theoria
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Sicilian Defense

Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Battery Variation

B73positional

  1. 1.e4c5
  2. 2.Nf3d6
  3. 3.d4cxd4
  4. 4.Nxd4Nf6
  5. 5.Nc3g6
  6. 6.Be2Bg7
  7. 7.O-OO-O
  8. 8.Be3Nc6
  9. 9.Qd2
839 games49%44%

Classical Dragon line in which White plays 9. Qd2, lining up queen and bishop on the c1-h6 diagonal instead of retreating the d4 knight.

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About the Battery Variation

The Battery Variation meets the Classical Dragon tabiya with 9. Qd2 rather than the retreat 9. Nb3. Queen and bishop line up on the c1-h6 diagonal, aiming at Bh6 to trade Black's fianchettoed bishop. Because the knight stays on d4, Black can seek exchanges or central counterplay. The most common replies are 9...Bd7 and 9...Ng4, the latter hitting the e3 bishop. The engine prefers 9...d5 and rates the position balanced.

Popular continuations