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1Kasparov, Garry (2795)
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0Anand, Viswanathan (2725)
SF 16 · 7MBNNUE
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1e4...To start with, let's take a look at a classical game in the Sicilian Dragon - the game between Vishy Anand and Garry Kasparov in their World Championship Match 1995. Kasparov, playing the Sicilian Dragon for the first time in an important tournament game, won with the Black pieces.1...c52Nf3d63d4cxd44Nxd4Nf65Nc3g6This is the starting position of the Sicilian Dragon.6Be3Bg7There are many variations that can be played from here. Vishy Anand goes for the most dangerous line in the Sicilian Dragon - the Yugoslav Attack.

This is an extremely sharp choice, leading to a very double-edged game. This variation is the reason why the Sicilian Dragon is considered to be one of the best openings for advanced players - it offers Black plenty of chances to go for a full point with the Black pieces.7f3...White develops the dark-squared bishop and plays f3. The inbetween f3 move is very important. It prevents black from exchanging the f6 knight for the bishop by guarding the g4 square. Next, white plans to bring the queen to d2 and to castle long. Black is going to castle short and the attack will shortly begin.7...O-O8Qd2Nc6Black castles short, while white develops the queen and prepares for castling long. White has two options. He can castle immediately or play Bc4 first. The first option is a safer one, while the second leads to ultra-sharp attacking madness! Even in a super sharp opening like the Dragon, you have a choice to go for a less aggressive line if you prefer. Flexibility is another characteristic that makes this one of the best openings for advanced players.
Now, Anand played the most aggressive continuation with 9. Bc4.9Bc4...The point of the Bc4 move is to prevent black from playing the typical d5 pawn push. This exchange would’ve been favorable for black, allowing them to open up the position, possibly exchanging the knights and activating the light-squared bishop.
After white castles, black develops the rook on to the semi-open c-file preparing the pawn attack on the queenside. White has similar ideas on the kingside. As you can see, the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian has a very straightforward plan, based on a general understanding of the position. It is very theoretical, and backed up by strong tactical ideas with a few important nuances. These things make the Sicilian Dragon one of the best openings for advanced players.9...Bd710O-O-ONe510...Rc8This is the main move in this position. The move order Garry Kasparov chooses, however, leads to the same position in this game. However, after 10...Rc8, Black already has a tactical threat. White is forced to play 11.Bb3. If he does not play this prophylactical move and plays the - at first glance - logical 11.h4? (going for a kingside attack), he loses a piece due to 11...Nxd4 12.Qxd4 (forced - the bishop on c4 was hanging) 12...Ng4! 13.Qd3 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 Rxc4-+11.h4?Nxd412.Qxd4Ng413.Qd3Nxe314.Qxe3Rxc411Bb3Rc812h4h513Kb1Nc414Bxc4Rxc415Nde2b516Bh6Qa517Bxg7Kxg718Nf4Rfc819Ncd5Qxd2Kasparov offered a draw after 19...Qxd2, but Anand refused it.20Rxd2Nxd521Nxd5Kf822Re1Rb823b3Rc524Nf4Rbc825Kb2a526a3Kg727Nd5Be628b4?axb429axb4Rc430Nb6?Rxb4+31Ka3Rxc20-1 White resigns.

Game study: Anand, Viswanathan (2725) - Kasparov, Garry (2795)25

WhiteAnand, Viswanathan (2725)
BlackKasparov, Garry (2795)
TimeControl-
Date2018.06.08
Result0-1
TerminationNormal
Sitehttps://lichess.org/K7WYfuxT
EventImport
Round-