Chess Openings Lab
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Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Bc4 Variation

The Modern Bc4 Variation of the Accelerated Dragon is 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4, aiming the bishop at f7 while Black has not yet castled or played ...d6. Black's best replies use the pin on c3 or the ...d5 break, while White wants to keep the center and attack later.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4
ECO
B35
Engine
+0.29 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
894 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.9%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Meet 7...Qa5 with O-O, breaking the pin on the c3 knight so e4 is safe again.
  • After 7...O-O, Bb3 avoids tricks on c4 and prepares f3 and Qd2.
  • Use f3 and Qd2 for a Yugoslav-style setup, then consider long castling and h4.
  • Keep the d4 knight protected; tactics with ...Nxd4 and ...Nxe4 appear when the bishop on e3 is loose.

Black

  • 7...Qa5 pins the c3 knight to the king on e1, so ...Nxe4 becomes a real threat.
  • 7...O-O followed by ...d5 after Bb3 opens the center before White is set up.
  • After ...d5 and exd5, ...Na5 hits the b3 bishop and the engine line trades it off.
  • Use ...Nxd4 when the bishop on e3 must recapture, then hit e4 with your knight.

Plans and pawn structure

Black's main idea is to strike in the center before White's setup is ready: ...Qa5 pins the c3 knight and ...d5 opens lines. White aims to stabilize with Bb3, castling or f3 and Qd2, then maybe long castling and a kingside attack. If Black gets ...d5 in well, the g7 bishop and open lines give good play. If White consolidates, the extra space and attacking chances favor White.

Where the engine's main line heads: Dragon structure: ...d6 and ...g6. The Dragon structure: ...d6 and ...g6 with the bishop on g7 aimed down the long diagonal at White's queenside.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.29: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.29 7...Qa5 8.O-O d6 9.h3 O-O 10.Bb3
  2. +0.34 7...O-O 8.Bb3 d5 9.exd5 Na5 10.Qf3
  3. +0.38 7...d6 8.f3 Qa5 9.Bb3 O-O 10.Qd2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

894 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.9%.

1200–159949.3%
1600–199949.1%
2000 and up55.8%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Dragon Variation, Modern Bc4 Variation7...d6 · rare

How to play against it

With Black, play 7...Qa5 or 7...O-O with ...d5 quickly. Do not play ...d6 too early and allow a Yugoslav attack setup with f3, Qd2 and long castling. With White, answer ...Qa5 by castling, and meet ...d5 with exd5 and calm play.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Bc4 Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Bc4 Variation starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4. Its ECO code is B35.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Bc4 Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.29 at depth 20, which is level. In 894 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.9%. A sharp line for both sides, rewarding the player who knows the move-order tricks with ...Qa5 and ...d5.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Bc4 Variation?

White aims the bishop at f7 and prepares a setup with f3 and Qd2. Black strikes back with ...Qa5 pinning the knight or ...d5 opening the center.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Qa5, with O-O and d6 close behind. 7...Qa5 pins the c3 knight to the king and creates the ...Nxe4 threat at once.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.