Sicilian Defense, Accelerated Dragon

The Accelerated Dragon arises in the Open Sicilian Defense when Black develops the knight to c6 and plays ...g6 without first moving the d7-pawn. As in the regular Dragon, Black prepares a fianchetto: the g-pawn advances and the f8-bishop develops to g7 to work along the long diagonal. The word accelerated describes this move order, not the speed of the entire game.

By keeping the pawn on d7, Black hopes to play ...d5 in a single move. This pawn break attacks White's center and opens lines for the pieces. In the traditional Dragon, Black has already spent a tempo on ...d6 and needs another move, ...d5, to advance the pawn from d6 to d5. The Accelerated Dragon may therefore save a tempo, but it allows White a specific positional response.

The Maróczy Bind

White can play c4 and establish pawns on c4 and e4. This setup, called the Maróczy Bind, controls d5 and makes Black's freeing break harder to achieve. A bind does not win material by itself. It restricts squares and forces the opponent to maneuver. Black attacks the pawn center, exchanges useful pieces, and prepares ...d5 or ...b5 under favorable conditions. White has more space but must prevent the center from becoming a fixed target.

The accelerated move order preserves ...d5 but allows c4

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

h8

g

f

e

d

c

b

a

Startg6c4Bg7

4...g6 prepares the same bishop development as the Dragon without first playing ...d6.

The d-pawn remains on its starting square

Saving that tempo distinguishes the Accelerated Dragon before the fianchetto appears.

1. 4...g6 prepares the same bishop development as the Dragon without first playing ...d6.
2. The d7-pawn retains the option of advancing directly to d5 in one move if the position allows it.