Sicilian Defence: Accelerated Dragon
Also known as Accelerated Dragon
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6
A speedy cousin of the Dragon: Black fianchettoes the bishop to g7 without first playing ...d6, hoping to free the position with one big ...d5 break. The trade-off is that White can clamp down with the Maróczy Bind (c4), so understanding that structure is essential.
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What it does
Black answers the Open Sicilian by developing the king's bishop to g7 immediately, aiming the piece down the long diagonal at White's centre and queenside. By delaying or skipping ...d6, Black keeps the option of ...d5 in a single move rather than two. If allowed, ...d5 frees Black's game and challenges White's e4-pawn. White, in turn, must decide between sharp natural development with Bc4 and Be3, or the space-grabbing Maróczy Bind with an early c4 to stop ...d5 in its tracks.
When to use it
Choose the Accelerated Dragon if you enjoy the Dragon bishop on g7 and want a flexible, slightly less theory-heavy route than the full Dragon. It suits players who like clear plans – pressure on the long diagonal and the c-file – and who are comfortable handling the Maróczy Bind, where patience and the ...b5 or ...f5 breaks matter. It is best when you want a sound, strategic Sicilian rather than a wild tactical brawl.
Why it works
Saving the tempo on ...d6 means ...d5 can come in one go, and in lines with Nxc6 ...bxc6 Black gets a solid pawn mass plus the bishop pair pointing at White's king. The g7-bishop is a long-term asset, raking the centre and helping both attack and defence. The early fianchetto also sidesteps the full Dragon's most feared anti-system, the Yugoslav Attack, since Black has not committed to ...d6, and Black can often meet Bc4 with ...Qa5 or ...Na5 ideas to ease the pressure on f7.
Key ideas
- Fianchetto fast: Bg7 aims down the long diagonal at White's centre
- Keep ...d5 in reserve as a freeing one-move break
- After Nxc6 bxc6 Black gets a strong pawn centre and bishop pair
- The c-file is Black's main line of counterplay
- Against the Maróczy Bind aim for ...b5 or ...f5 breaks
- ...Qa5 or ...Na5 helps ease White's pressure from the c4-bishop
Watch out
Beware the Maróczy Bind (5.c4): it stops ...d5 cold and cramps Black, so do not drift – plan ...Nf6, ...d6, ...Nxd4 and a timely ...b5 or ...f5. Also note careless play lets White's knight jump to d5 or b5, and watch the f7-square against the Bc4 lines; keep the a1-h8 diagonal in mind if your g7-bishop is ever exchanged.