Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Topalov Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4
The Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Topalov Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO B78, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4. It is a line of the Sicilian Defense. Black is to move.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 34 times by this move order. White won 47%, 12% were drawn and Black won 41%. The most popular continuation is 12… b5 (97% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.37 (Stockfish, depth 49; best line 12… b5 13. a3 a5 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. Bxg7)
- ECO
- B78
- Moves
- 23 plies
- FEN
2rq1rk1/pp1bppbp/3p1np1/8/3BP3/1BN2P2/PPPQ2PP/2KR3R b - - 0 12- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 1 | |
| 1500-1999 | 1 | |
| 2000+ | 32 | |
| All | 34 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 12… b5 | 33 (97%) | |
| 12… a5 | 1 (3%) |
Master games
204 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 41%, draw 22%, Black 37%). The strongest:
- GM So, W. (2760) – GM Kirill Shevchenko (2684) 1-0 · Superbet Blitz 2023 · 2023-05-25
- GM Kirill Alekseenko (2609) – GM Daniele Vocaturo (2620) 1/2-1/2 · 19th ch-EUR Indiv 2018 · 2018-03-21
- GM Quang Liem Le (2709) – GM Ognjen Cvitan (2467) 0-1 · 1st Abu Dhabi Super Blitz · 2020-04-15
- GM Manuel Perez Candelario (2612) – GM Alexandr Fier (2560) 0-1 · Iberoamericano Chess24 · 2020-06-20
- GM Manuel Perez Candelario (2612) – GM Alexandr Fier (2560) 0-1 · Iberoamericano Chess24 · 2020-06-20
Highest-rated Lichess games
- CM Mysterious-Master (2571) – FM FlySooHigh (2606) 1-0 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
- Sawa-169 (2505) – FM TheMadSponge (2515) 0-1 · 2026-09-06 · 180 + 2s
- blagig (2437) – Vodoley24 (2536) 0-1 · 2026-09-06 · 180 + 2s
Comes from
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Old Line 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8
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.