Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Byrne Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
5,536 games: White 50.0% / Draw 4.9% / Black 45.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 2,3932,393 | ||
| 893893 | ||
| 704704 | ||
| 432432 | ||
| 344344 | ||
| 229229 | ||
| 184184 | ||
| 159159 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 10, 2026
Engine evaluation
+1.30 White is better
Best play: 10. a4 Bd7 11. O-O-O Rc8 12. Bb3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 b5 14. Nxb5 Bxb5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Byrne Variation (ECO B77, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Main Line, 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 a5 (9 moves).
In 5,536 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.0%, Black 45.0% and 4.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 10. O-O-O, in 43% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Byrne Variation
10. a4 scores best for White: 56.2%, with White winning 54.4% and Black 42.0% of 704 games. The most played, 10. O-O-O, scores 53.4% in 2,393 games, and 10. g4 scores lowest: 50.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 10. a4.
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, Yugoslav Attack, Byrne Variation (B77)”. Lichess data as of 10 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-dragon-variation-yugoslav-attack-byrne-variation