Sicilian Dragon vs Najdorf - Which is better?

I was referencing the guy who quoted RJF.

I’d advise you, as someone who plays the White side of your Najdorf line quite a bit, that you would do better keeping your king in the center for a bit. I would finish development with Nbd7, b5, and Bb7 before castling (or maybe not, as a pawn storm like the one you showed could be possible). Sometimes Black never castles in The Najdorf, and I think you should look into some no castling lines.

Oh sorry, I misread your comment.

Hmm that's an interesting option. I've never really considered leaving my king in the centre. But I guess it makes sense, once white commits to an early kingside pawn storm.

Thanks for the advice.

Actually, Yugoslav is not very good for White as an early d5 push (as you didn't play d6) gives black the advantage. The reason why most people don't play advanced though is because of the annoying Maroczy Bind variation.

Huh? If White is aiming for a Yugoslav setup, then the hyperaccelerated dragon (2 ... g6) simply transposes to the accelerated dragon, no? As far as I’m aware, the only difference between them is some sidelines they avoid and allow (most notably the Rossolimo). What’s the difference you had in mind? 

And the problem with both is the Maroczy Bind. 

Yes, but not against Yugoslav players who include Bc4 in their setup, which prevents d5 anyway, and which still gives White a lot of attacking chances.  Black still has some ways to keep the game independent in those lines, but they don't make as big a difference as they do in the 9. 0-0-0 lines.

I personally prefer the Najdorf, with this variation as black.

It's a very solid counter-attack, and I prefer it over any dragon variations.

That's a big question, but it's riskier to play the Dragon (if you play it as your only defense) because Black normally has less options than in the Najdorf, so your opponent can prepare more easily against you

This particular variation should actually be labelled as dubious, and avoided.

Black risks falling into a very passive position where white dictates the play. Fortunately for him he has a better option at move 12, and an even better one as early as move 8.

I assume the move you prefer at move 8 is h5. What’s the improvement at move 12?

Probably The Najdorf as black because if your opponent plays The Yugoslav attack which is below, than your life just becomes a heck of a lot more difficult as black because you have to remember a lot moves and theory.

1. Yes, of course- 8...h5! is the best way to meet the English attack.

2. He is also more or less OK after 12.g5 Nh5, but he has to be very careful - the position is a pithole.

A very recent game I played:

- 14...f5 is IMO already a bit inaccurate. Black may win a pawn, but he needs to spent many moves to get that h5 knight back to life. 14...f6 looks like a better move.

- 22.Rge1! is neither a new move, nor the most common one, but it makes most sense to me. White's aim should be to break some way this d6-e5-f4 chain, so a rook targetting the e5 pawn makes a lot of sense- and in any case I find it hard to spot a function for it on the g-file anymore.

-24...bxa4 is not new, but i think it's a mistake as it allows white to achieve his strategical plan without hindrance. I am quite suprised that the very natural and strong 25.c4! I have played is a novelty.

From that point, Black was in trouble, and playing very fast made things even worse.

By any objective definition... win ratio, playability, popularity etc. najdorf slays dragon. Which a majority play because of the name. And as for Eng. Attack? A d6 scheveningen structure gives better counterplay, according to GM opinion. A d5 set up should be good pickings, if White knows the best line. And the kan variation avoids the Eng, Attack with ease. Despite what some rude, aggressive people might claim.

Najdorf is sounder and is preferred by top players, but the ideas in the Sicilian Dragon are easy to understand, and the attacking strategy is quite clear. The Najdorf is tactically complex and sometimes even strategically complex, meanwhile the Dragon just results in both sides going for all-out attacks. I am studying the Najdorf, but the Dragon is one of my old favourites.

play the uber-accelerated dragon: 1.g3! 😆

Velimorovic attack go brr

play the hyper-accelerated dragon.

Najdorf because the key ideas are easier.

This gives chances for both sides. IMO white's attack plays itself and is dangerous and black needs to know stuff and not 'blink' but, if so, black is fine with, e.g., the a6 Qc7 Na5 line.

I don't understand, are you suggesting 6. Bc4 against the Classical? 6... Qb6 is good for Black, the Knight on d4 is quite awkward and if it retreats to b3 then the Bc4 is misplaced

Najdorf makes me struggle with plans from the early opening. The only thing I plan with the Dragon is how to charge up the Kingside and kill it.