[Event "Opening Repertoire - Nikos"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "1 e4 - Dragon Sicilian"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [ECO "B73"] [Annotator "KS"] [PlyCount "35"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.10.02"] {[%evp 0,35,19,21,72,53,77,82,76,49,49,40,96,47,36,36,49,31,40,19,33,59,59,30,42,4,46,-6,1,-6,16,4,22,0,0,-11,-11,-11]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 {[#] conventional wisdom says that White should play f3-Qd2 and castle long.} 7. Be2 $5 {a fully playable system that can put Black under pressure!} Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O d5 $5 {which is consider by many sources the equalizing move. I don't think so...} (9... Bd7 $5 {Another typical way for Black to play} 10. Rfd1 Rc8 11. f3 {[#] Navara Kamsky and other GM's have played the White position. It is not easy for Black to develop strong counterplay} Ne5 12. a4 $1 Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. b3 Rc8 15. Nce2 $1 {[%CAl Gc2c4,Ga4a5]}) 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Rfd1 Qc7 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. c3 $1 {[#] modern engines evaluate the position as better for White and engine games confirm this!} Rd8 15. Rac1 Bb7 16. b4 a6 17. a4 Rac8 18. Qd3 {won in RubiChess-Fire, CCRL 2021 Conclusion: The Dragon can be challenges with simple and sound developing moves!} *