Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon

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.

3. d4 (played in 43% of games)
Breaking in the center in order to open up the game.

• 3. Bc4 (28%): Developing the bishop and preparing to castle.
• 3. c3 (11%): Intending to play d4 and gain a large space advantage in the center.

3... cxd4 (played in 78% of games)
Not allowing White to continue forward and gain a large space advantage.

4. Nxd4 (played in 77% of games)
Recapturing the pawn while centralizing the knight.

• 4. Qxd4 (19%): Recapturing the pawn with the queen and attacking the rook on h8.

4... Bg7 (played in 76% of games)

5. Nc3 (played in 43% of games)

5... Nc6 (played in 60% of games)

6. Be3 (played in 57% of games)
Developing the bishop and supporting the knight on d4, while aiming to continue by castling queenside and attacking on the kingside.

6... Nf6 (played in 44% of games)
Developing the knight and pressuring the white center while preparing to castle.

7. f3 (played in 27% of games)
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 (17%): Developing the bishop. White will plan to attack on the kingside while Black attacks on the queenside.

7... O-O (played in 72% of games)
Castling kingside with the plan of breaking in the center with d5 if possible.

8. Qd2 (played in 64% of games)
Preparing to castle kingside and also allowing for the possibility of trading off dark-squared bishops with Bh6.

8... d5 (played in 41% of games)
Breaking in the center and opening up the position while White’s king remains uncastled.

9. exd5 (played in 36% of games)