B74

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Spielmann Variation

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Statistics from Lichess

559 games: White 54.6% / Draw 7.3% / Black 38.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next move	Games	White / Draw / BlackW / D / B
	220220
	183183
	7676
	3636
	2020
	1010
	88
	22

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.05 The position is about equal

Best play: 12... Bxd3 13. cxd3 Nxb3 14. axb3 d5 15. Bd4 dxe4 16. dxe4 a6 17. b4

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Spielmann Variation (ECO B74, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Be2 O-O 8. Nb3 d6 9. O-O Be6 10. f4 Na5 11. f5 Bc4 12. Bd3 (12 moves).

In 559 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 54.6%, Black 38.1% and 7.3% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 12…Rc8, in 39% of those games.

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Description

How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Spielmann Variation

The most played answer, 12…Rc8, also scores best for Black: 44.5%, with Black winning 40.9% and White 51.8% of 220 games. Of the main answers, 12…Bxd3 scores lowest: 40.2%. Stockfish's first choice is 12…Bxd3.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Spielmann Variation (B74)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-dragon-variation-classical-variation-spielmann-variation