Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack

The Yugoslav Attack pairs Be3 with 7. f3, which shores up e4, discourages ...Ng4 and prepares a kingside pawn advance with g4. After 7...O-O the usual 8. Qd2 points toward Bh6, trading off the g7-bishop, and long castling, followed by h4-h5 and g4 against the hook on g6. Black relies on the half-open c-file, the a- and b-pawns, and the exchange sacrifice on c3 to break open White's queenside. With kings on opposite wings, tempo counts for everything, and the line is regarded as one of the sharpest and most heavily analyzed in opening theory.

After 8. Qd2 Nc6, White chooses between 9. O-O-O, 9. g4 (the Panov Variation) and the Main Line 9. Bc4, which stops the freeing ...d5 but leaves the bishop exposed to a rook on c8. After 9...Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 the Topalov Variation 11...Nxd4 12. Bxd4 is one branch, while 10...Rb8 is the Chinese Dragon. The engine gives White a slight edge, though results in online play are close to even.