Combating the Sicilian Dragon is not at all easy. The purpose of this short article is to equip you with a relatively straightforward idea that gives at worst, a solid well-developed position and, at best, every chance of a quick win.

Shabalov (2570) - J Fang (2380) [B70]
Philadelphia, 1996
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Bg5!?

SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE

The basis of the idea. White concentrates on rapid development. Some Dragon players think Be3 is the only move; sure that if you play Bg5 you've made a mistake!

6...Bg7 7.Bb5+

It was Vitolins who saw the potential in this move. In essence, White wants to strike in the center as quickly as possible, usually building up to e4-e5! White cannot hesitate for one second in this procedure because Black's formation is very well tailored to queenside counterattack. As you'll see, this refreshing, direct approach suits Shabalov down to the ground. Nothing pleases him better than to aim for the initiative.

7...Bd7

7...Nbd7 is less common, although playable. White must be prepared to surrender the two Bishops in his quest to detonate the center: 8.Qe2 0-0 9.0-0-0 a6 10.Bxd7 Bxd7 11.f4

PREPARING A CENTRAL EXPLOSION

That's the way. As you can see, Black's queenside play hasn't started yet and he has to be very careful about the threat of e4-e5! Play might proceed 11...Bg4 12.Nf3 Qa5 13.Kb1 Rfe8 (13...Be6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.Rxd5 Qb6 17.e5 Bg7 18.Rhd1 Rfd8 19.c4 Rac8 20.b3 dxe5 21.fxe5 Rxd5 22.Rxd5 a5 23.Rb5 Qc7 24.Qe4 b6 25.Qd4 Rb8 26.Rd5 a4 27.Rd7 Qc5 28.Qxc5 was L Yurtaev - S Hansen, Copenhagen 1991. White's endgame advantage is indisputable.) 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Rac8 16.Rhe1 Rc5 17.e5 dxe5 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Ne4 Rc7 20.f5 Bg7 21.Rf1 Rf8 22.g4 Qb6 23.h4,

A MASSIVE ATTACK

White has a massive attack. Now in these examples Black didn't do anything demonstrably wrong, yet he still ended up much worse. To the Dragon player's dismay, White castled long in complete safety. Perhaps 7...Nbd7 is a little slow. Even at this early stage, Black has to be right on the ball.

8.Qe2 Nc6

After 8...0-0 9.0-0-0 White keeps the central advance firmly in mind: 9...Qa5 (9...a6 10.Bxd7 Nbxd7 11.f4 Qc7 12.Nf3 Nb6 13.Rhe1, Sapi and Schneider) 10.f4 Bg4 11.Nf3 a6 12.Bc4 Nbd7 13.Rhe1 Bxf3 14.gxf3 h6 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.e5 Nh5 17.Qe4 dxe5 18.fxe5 e6 19.f4 idea Ne2-g3, Ramm-Liberzon USSR 1984. White has a clear advantage.

9.Bxc6

9.0-0-0 is also very common.

9...bxc6 10.0-0-0 h6 11.Bh4 Qb6 12.e5!

EXTREMELY ANNOYING

A move which can be described as frightening. Black might not quite believe it, but he now has to deal with the threats! Under pressure, he might well go wrong.

12...Nd5

Fang must have wanted to capture, but White is very fast: 12...dxe5 13.Qxe5 Rb8 (13...0-0 14.Qxe7 Rfe8 15.Qd6 g5 16.Bg3 Rad8 17.Qc7 gives Black some compensation, but not quite enough.)

NOT QUITE ENOUGH COMP FOR BLACK

14.Na4 Qb4 15.c3 Qd6 16.Qxd6 exd6 17.Rhe1+ Kd8 18.Nc5!

BLACK IS VERY UNHAPPY

13.exd6!

"SHABING" THE POSITION

Trademark fireworks from Shabalov. White has calculated a long way.

13...Bxd4 14.Rxd4 Qxd4 15.Nxd5 0-0

15...Qxh4 16.g3!!

DEATH ON e7

is the fine point.

16.Nxe7+ Kh7 17.Bg3