A lesser-known weapon against the Dragon

Jump to forum:
 
8th January 2009, 02:18pm
#1
by UNCWrunner
Raleigh, NC United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 11

Often times, Black players who prefer sharp openings will play the Sicilian Dragon . The most common reply for white against the Dragon is the Yugoslav attack. Against the Dragon, I recommend the Grand Prix Attack. I have enjoyed a great deal of success with it and have yet to find any defects with it while playing White or Black (I play the Accelerated Dragon for Black and see the GP attack occasionally).  The Grand Prix can be very dangerous to Dragon players who are unfamiliar with the system. So Dragon players beware! Please examine the game to the left in which I played the GP attack. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to state/ ask them. Also, if you see any better moves for either side (I'm sure you'll find mistakes) feel free to comment, Thanks! -BK

8th January 2009, 02:36pm
#2
by chessowns
Saskatoon Canada
Member Since: Jan 2009
Member Points: 197

Hmm, Bg7xh6 seems like a pretty viable move, and after Qh4xh6, then the pawn could go to f4 to continue a decently strong attack on your pieces, while making his light squared bishop stronger in that position. But I'm a newb at chess, so you can correct me :P

8th January 2009, 02:43pm
#3
by Bdsr
Christchurch New Zealand
Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 168

i play the dragon and im not sure about this, but isnt the dragon the best defence to the grand prix attack anyway?

8th January 2009, 02:50pm
#4
by Ray_Brooks
Heart of Darkness England
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 2166

Black's set up was fine, except he omitted to play e6 early enough to slow White's ambitions viz-a-viz playing f5. He certainly pays the price for his untimely expansion on the Queen-side, well played.

8th January 2009, 03:15pm
#5
by max-malizia
SAN JOSE United States
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 77

I play GPA with White as well...good results with low rating players and medium rating players in blitz chess...but is tough to win with it with a good player in a tournament...as GPA plan is pretty easy to grasp

8th January 2009, 03:15pm
#6
by UNCWrunner
Raleigh, NC United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 11

Chessowns, please give me move #'s and a variation. Bxh6 for black could have happened on many moves, so it's hard for me to identify your idea. Generally, black does not want to give up his dark squared bishop in the Dragon because it is so vital in the defence of the dark squares around his King, thanks for your post!

8th January 2009, 03:45pm
#7
by erikido23
United States
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 981
Ray_Brooks wrote:

Black's set up was fine, except he omitted to play e6 early enough to slow White's ambitions viz-a-viz playing f5. He certainly pays the price for his untimely expansion on the Queen-side, well played.


 Quite untimely indeed.  When I saw him playing on that side of the board I thought to myself...bend him over hes got blinders on. 

9th January 2009, 05:36pm
#8
by chessowns
Saskatoon Canada
Member Since: Jan 2009
Member Points: 197

On number 13 when it was fxe4.

9th January 2009, 05:44pm
#9
by kungfoodchef
vigrinia United States
Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 260

 i like that kind of play i might try it

10th January 2009, 09:08am
#10
by UNCWrunner
Raleigh, NC United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 11

Chessowns, thanks for your post. On ...13. Bxh6 14.Qxh6 fxe4 15.Ng5 15... almost any legal move for Black, seriously, think of anything in this positiion, like 15...Nbd4(to try and back up the f6 knight which white will soon kill for a mating attack @ h7 via Rxf6.

After 16.Nxd4 in this position, Black has every right and reason to resign (if 16... Nxd4, 17. Qxh7#) 

Now earlier, I highlighted 14...fxe4 , which looks like a totally legit, natural move for Black but ultimately loses because of the opening of the f-file. Instead of 14...fxe4, a well prepared Black player should play 14...e6! to try and keep the f-file closed momentarily.

The reason I like playing the GPA for white is because unprepared Black players can make natural moves like  14...fxe4 and white can contiune with a vicous (and often times fatal) attack.

10th January 2009, 09:21am
#11
by CM streetfighter
Glenrothes Scotland
Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 553

This system is perfectly acceptable for black (see Fedorov-Kasparov, can't find the game myself for some reason-maybe someone could track it down?)), but a true Dragon player would play (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3) Nc6 (instead of 3...d6) in case white was trying to trick him with a move order, and plays 3.Nf3 (instead of 3.f4)

If white plays the GPA then black, in general, wants to reply with a quick ...d5, and therefore 2...d6 can be considered a 'waste' of a move.

I often play as white 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 (with the intention of playing d4 next) - it causes some problems for Najdorf players or those who play too routinely in the opening.

11th January 2009, 09:37am
#12
by UNCWrunner
Raleigh, NC United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 11

Streetfighter,

I don't play open Sicilians from the White side very often. However, your move order seems favorable and I will eventually give it a try as I will need to learn to play open Sicilians eventually. Thanks for your input!

Also, what do you feel like White's plan should be after

1.e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. f4 d5 ? in which Black goes for the d5 thrust right away.

 

Add your comment:

Join Chess.com for free to add your comment! Already a member? Then login now to comment.