There are some chess openings – such as the Grob and the Black Lion – which gain a cult following at club level. This is because they appeal to maverick players, who like to go their own way, but generally speaking such openings struggle to hold up against well-prepared opponents because realistically their theoretical status is not particularly healthy.
But one cult opening bucks the trend, has been played by several World Champions, and is also the subject of a fierce theoretical debate, driving the theory of the ever-forwards.
There is no opening quite like the Sicilian Dragon. Mikhail Botvinnik, never one to play an opening he didn’t fully believe in, used it at the very highest level and Garry Kasparov surprised the world in general – and his title opponent Vishy Anand in particular – to score two wins and a draw with the Dragon in the 1995 World Chess Championship match. It was a pivotal point in the match.
Anand had looked very comfortable in the match and Kasparov struggled to impose himself when in game 11 after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3, he eschewed his standard 5…a6 (the Najdorf Variation) in favor of 5…g6!
Back in those days, before the Internet became the beast it is today, we followed the live transmission of moves from World Championships via CEEFAX, and some viewers were convinced 5…g6 had been a mistake in the relaying of the moves.
The Dragon is steeped in history. Some elite players strive to build it up (Botvinnik and Kasparov, as already mentioned, for example) and others seek to tear it down (Bobby Fischer and Anatoly Karpov spring instantly to mind). Yet it keeps bouncing back and gaining new fans and the literature on this great opening continues to grow too.
The latest tome, Dragon Masters: Volume 1 by Andrew Burnett, is an essential addition to anyone’s collection, whether Dragon players or slayers.
writing for even longer.
He is the author of the best-selling Batsford’s Chess Bible and is the
chief trainer for the UK charity, Chess in Schools and Communities. Sean
is also an active player, tutor, coach, professional blogger and is the
chairperson for international conferences and quizzes.
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