The Dangers of the Dragon

One attractive feature of the Dragon Variation is that White cannot get by with merely indiferent play. Planless moves by White usually results in a promising middle game for Black. Take the game below for instance. White plays carelessly; his center Pawns disappear; his development is slow; Black's "Dragon" Bishop takes a strong hold on the long diagonal; an advantageous exchange gives Black two long-range Bishops. All this add up to Black taking the initiative. The players change roles and the defender becomes the attacker. The game was played during the Italian Correspondence Championship in 1949.