ECO B27 · for Black
Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon
The line below is what Lichess 1600-1800 players actually play: after the opening's defining moves, each move is the most common choice at that point. The notes are Chessbook's move notes, the same ones shown while building a repertoire.
2,983,635 games in this band reached the Hyperaccelerated Dragon position. From there Black won 48% and drew 4%.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bg7 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Nxc6
Moves 1 to 2
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6
1. e4
"Best by test" according to Bobby Fisher.
1... c5
A counter-attacking opening. The asymmetry generally leads to sharp games.
2. Nf3
2... g6
Preparing to fianchetto the bishop, aiming for a Dragon or Hyper-Accelerated Dragon setup. This move also prepares to castle kingside.
Moves 3 to 4
3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bg7
3. d4
Breaking in the center in order to open up the game.
- 3. Bc4: Developing the bishop and preparing to castle.
- 3. c3: Intending to play d4 and gain a large space advantage in the center.
3... cxd4
Not allowing White to continue forward and gain a large space advantage.
4. Nxd4
Recapturing the pawn while centralizing the knight.
- 4. Qxd4: Recapturing the pawn with the queen and attacking the rook on h8.
4... Bg7
Moves 5 to 6
5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6
5. Nc3
5... Nc6
6. Be3
Developing the bishop and supporting the knight on d4, while aiming to continue by castling queenside and attacking on the kingside.
6... Nf6
Developing the knight and pressuring the white center while preparing to castle.
Moves 7 to 8
7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 d5
7. f3
Strengthening the center and preparing a much later kingside attack. Often in the Dragon Sicilian White will play for an attack with h4 and g4.
- 7. Bc4: Developing the bishop. White will plan to attack on the kingside while Black attacks on the queenside.
7... O-O
Castling kingside with the plan of breaking in the center with d5 if possible.
8. Qd2
Preparing to castle kingside and also allowing for the possibility of trading off dark-squared bishops with Bh6.
8... d5
Breaking in the center and opening up the position while White’s king remains uncastled.
Moves 9 to 11
9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Nxc6
9. exd5
9... Nxd5
10. Nxd5
10... Qxd5
11. Nxc6
Plans for Black in this position
What Black usually does from here in Chessbook's games data. Hover a move to see it on the board.
- The queen on d5 or pawn on b7 typically captures the knight on c6
- The pawn on c6 generally recaptures the queen on d5
- The kingside rook usually develops to d8
- The light-squared bishop can develop to f5 or e6
- A common pawn move is a5
Related opening guides
- Sicilian Defense for Black
- French Defense for Black
- Scandinavian Defense for Black
- Caro-Kann Defense for Black
- Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation for Black
- Philidor Defense for Black