Theoria
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Sicilian Defense

Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Maróczy Line

B74positionaltactical

  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.Nb3Be6
  10. 10.f4Na5
33 games45%48%

A Classical Dragon line in which Black meets 10. f4 with 10...Na5, aiming the knight at c4 to contest White's queenside and the e3-bishop.

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About the Maróczy Line

The Maróczy Line meets White's 10. f4 with 10...Na5. The knight heads for c4, where it would attack the bishop on e3 and the b2-pawn, and it also lets White exchange on a5. The most common reply is 11. Nxa5. After 11. f5 Bc4 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. cxd3 d5, the Bernard Defense, Black breaks in the center. 11. Nd4 is a less frequent choice. Engines rate the position roughly balanced.

Popular continuations