Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Dragon Transfer
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 g6
The Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Dragon Transfer is a chess opening classified as ECO B58, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 g6. It is a line of the Sicilian Defense. White is to move.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 8 times by this move order. White won 63%, -1% were drawn and Black won 38%. The most popular continuation is 8. Bg5 (38% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.44 (Stockfish, depth 34; best line 8. Be3 Bg7 9. O-O-O Be6 10. Qa4+ Nd7)
- ECO
- B58
- Moves
- 14 plies
- FEN
r1bqkb1r/pp2pp1p/3p1np1/8/3QP3/2N5/PPP1BPPP/R1B1K2R w KQkq - 0 8- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 g6
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 2 | |
| 1500-1999 | 1 | |
| 2000+ | 5 | |
| All | 8 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 8. Bg5 | 3 (38%) | |
| 8. Be3 | 3 (38%) | |
| 8. O-O | 2 (25%) |
Master games
11 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 18%, draw 55%, Black 27%). The strongest:
- GM Jose Luis 1954 Fernandez Garcia (2419) – IM Ann Matnadze Bujiashvili (2422) 0-1 · CECLUB 1st Div GpA 2012 · 2012-08-03
- Arthur Pijpers (2351) – IM Ann Matnadze Bujiashvili (2401) 0-1 · Groningen Open A · 2012-12-29
- Irakli Beradze (2319) – FM Pierre Barbot (2392) 1-0 · 23rd EYCC Open U18 2013 · 2013-10-03
- GM Lothar Vogt (2402) – IM Renzo Mantovani (2307) 1-0 · TCh-SUI 2018 · 2018-06-10
- IM Vadim Z Faibisovich (2348) – IM Danner, G. (2315) 1/2-1/2 · 15th TCh-Eur Senior · 2013-07-22
Highest-rated Lichess games
- IM Angelicanmade (2533) – teknasw (2681) 0-1 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
- david23232323 (2357) – Gambitgourmand (2386) 1-0 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
- SHALOV (2320) – Gambitgourmand (2340) 1-0 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation (5… Nc6 6. Be2) 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2
More Sicilian Defense lines (all)
- Sicilian Defense (1. e4 c5) B20
- Sicilian Defense: Amazon Attack B20
- Sicilian Defense: Big Clamp Formation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Bowdler Attack B20
- Sicilian Defense: Brick Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack B20
- Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack, Queen Fianchetto Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Euwe Attack, Prins Gambit B20
- Sicilian Defense: Gloria Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Grob Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Keres Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening B20
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.