Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Soltis Variation position after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.O-O-O Qa5 11.h4 Rfc8 12.Bb3 h5. White: knight on d4, pawn on e4, pawn on h4, bishop on b3, knight on c3, bishop on e3, pawn on f3, pawn on a2, pawn on b2, pawn on c2, queen on d2, pawn on g2, king on c1, rook on d1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, rook on c8, king on g8, pawn on a7, pawn on b7, bishop on d7, pawn on e7, pawn on f7, bishop on g7, knight on c6, pawn on d6, knight on f6, pawn on g6, queen on a5, pawn on h5.
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Soltis Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.O-O-O Qa5 11.h4 Rfc8 12.Bb3 h5. It is classified B79 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has white to move. The Sicilian Defense is Black's most popular answer to 1.e4, meeting it with 1...c5 to fight for the centre asymmetrically rather than mirroring White's pawn. Because the pawn structures that result are unbalanced from move one, the Sicilian produces sharper and more double-edged positions than any other reply to the king's pawn, and it has the best practical scoring record for Black at master level.
Strategic character
Black accepts a slight lag in development in exchange for a queenside pawn majority and the half-open c-file, which becomes the main artery for counterplay. White typically attacks on the kingside while Black attacks on the queenside, so games often become a race in which tempo matters more than material.
Who should play it
Players who want winning chances with Black and are willing to learn theory. The main lines are heavily analysed, and being caught unprepared in the Najdorf or Dragon can lose quickly.
This line is a variation within the Sicilian Defense family. The strategic ideas above describe the family as a whole; this particular line reaches them by the move order 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.O-O-O Qa5 11.h4 Rfc8 12.Bb3 h5.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Soltis Variation?
The Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Soltis Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.O-O-O Qa5 11.h4 Rfc8 12.Bb3 h5. It is classified B79 in the ECO system. The Sicilian Defense is Black's most popular answer to 1.e4, meeting it with 1...c5 to fight for the centre asymmetrically rather than mirroring White's pawn. Because the pawn structures that result are unbalanced from move one, the Sicilian produces sharper and more double-edged positions than any other reply to the king's pawn, and it has the best practical scoring record for Black at master level.
What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Soltis Variation?
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.O-O-O Qa5 11.h4 Rfc8 12.Bb3 h5. After these moves it is white to move.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Soltis Variation good for beginners?
Players who want winning chances with Black and are willing to learn theory. The main lines are heavily analysed, and being caught unprepared in the Najdorf or Dragon can lose quickly.