The Sicilian Dragon--One more time...

Originally posted by XanthosNZ
Move 21 is a theme that is often repeated in these types of Sicilians. As a matter of fact I believe I have played the same move in similar games twice in the past couple of days. I picked it up from a master game somewhere where the queen ended up completely trapped.

I think perhaps Rd4 would have been the best move at 22w.
22. Rd4 Nh7 (aiming to kee ...[text shortened]... e it doesn't allow the exchange sac on c3 (thanks to the queen still defending the knight).

The only advantage seems to be it doesn't allow the exchange sac on c3 (thanks to the queen still defending the knight).

Doh! (for me...) How couldn't I get that idea?

I will check your 22.Rd4 at my lab...

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Pretty game. 🙂

Thanks... Very decent of you...

But please AThousandYoung (don't take offense please): Tear the game apart and be merciless on your criticism!! Nobody learns by listening the words "good game!" If you spot a blunder, positional misconception, flawed idea, please point it out...

Originally posted by Alopinto
[b]Yet this thread again...

Of course I don't question the soundness of the dragon but I do think that it is very complicated to play the Black side of this opening.

I took the challenge posted by my now good friend LordOfTheChessboard and this is what came out of it:


Game 947146


Of course, this is hardly conclussive evidence that the ...[text shortened]... Another game that I played against Dustnrogers with the dragon went like this:

Game 884216

Your move 16 e5 looks like a novelty. I see no reason for Black to sacrifice a pice in this position. What did you plan to play after the simple dxe?

Originally posted by arrakis
Your move 16 e5 looks like a novelty. I see no reason for Black to sacrifice a pice in this position. What did you plan to play after the simple dxe?

Actually it is not a novelty. In this position White has played a number of moves that include 16.Nde2 (The most common), 16.Nb3, 16.e5, 16.Kb1 and many others.

After 16...dxe5 17.Nb3 and that's as far as I am going to go with this line that's very important. However, you may check Gufeld's book "Secrets of the Sicilian Dragon." There you will find a thorough discussion about this important line... True, Black's record against this line looks fantastic when checking the database from www.chessbase.com but, imho, there are very concrete ways for White to earn an advantage.