Caissa Codex
B71

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Levenfish Variation, Main Line

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Levenfish Variation, Main Line after 6…Nbd7

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

14,984 games: White 46.1% / Draw 4.8% / Black 49.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
3,9573,957
2,8832,883
2,3382,338
1,7331,733
1,5271,527
953953
430430
244244

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

Engine evaluation

+0.45 White is slightly better

Best play: 7. Be3 a6 8. Be2 Bg7 9. Qd2 Qc7 10. O-O-O b5 11. e5 b4

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

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Levenfish Variation, Main Line (ECO B71, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Levenfish Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f4 Nbd7 (6 moves).

In 14,984 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.1%, Black 49.1% and 4.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. Bc4, in 26% of those games.

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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Levenfish Variation, Main Line

7. Nf3 scores best for White: 55.0%, with White winning 51.6% and Black 41.7% of 953 games. The most played answer, 7. Bc4, scores lowest: 45.0% in 3,957 games. Stockfish's first choice is 7. Be3.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White'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, Levenfish Variation, Main Line (B71)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-dragon-variation-levenfish-variation-main-line

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-dragon-variation-levenfish-variation-main-line