Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Grigoriev Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO B72), reached after 17 half-moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black bishop — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Grigoriev Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code B72. ECO group B (B00–B99) covers semi-open games (1.e4 with Black playing anything other than 1…e5), with the Sicilian, French, Caro-Kann and Pirc/Modern at its heart. This particular variation is reached after 17 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O.

It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Dragon Variation → Classical Variation → Grigoriev Variation line). The immediate parent line is Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, transitioned via 9.O-O-O.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 c5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.d4 cxd4, 4.Nxd4 Nf6, 5.Nc3 d6, 6.Be2 g6. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.