Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 · B27
Part of Sicilian Defense
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 14
The bishop is planned before the knight
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
The idea
Black prepares the fianchetto with 2...g6 before developing the b8 knight. White can enter an Accelerated Dragon with d4, or choose another central setup before Black commits more pieces.
Main line: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O
What White wants
- Take the centre with d4 and grab space with c4
- Develop quickly and punish the early fianchetto's lack of central control
- Watch for ...d5 and ...Nxe4 tricks on the long diagonal
What Black wants
- Fianchetto at once and follow with ...Nc6 and ...Nf6
- Hit the centre with ...d5 as fast as possible
- Use the long diagonal and the c-file for counterplay
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
The bishop is planned before the knight
Playing ...g6 on move two prepares ...Bg7; the bishop has not moved yet. Black keeps the queenside knight flexible and preserves the possibility of ...d5 in one move. White can use c4 to restrict that break, but the long diagonal remains an important source of counterplay.
Common mistake
Assuming c4 leaves the g7 bishop with no useful diagonal. The bind controls d5, not the bishop's entire line; Black should seek exchanges and supported pawn breaks, while White develops enough pieces to maintain the extra space.
Mistake example: d6.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r1bq1rk1/pp1pppbp/2n2np1/8/2BNP3/2N1B3/PPP2PPP/R2QK2R w KQ - 7 8
Analyze this position