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Sicilian Defence: Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, Soltis Variation

Radjabov–Kasimdzhanov, FIDE Grand Prix Elista 2008 · Nepomniachtchi–Wei, FIDE World Cup 2013 · 7:24 · ECO B78

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In this video

Game 1: Teimour Radjabov (2751) vs Rustam Kasimdzhanov (2672)

FIDE Grand Prix Elista 2008, 16 December 2008 · White won (1-0) · 35 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 13.Kb1The first move after the opening line0:54
  2. 23...Rxh1The evaluation moves from +0.53 to +1.311:46
  3. 28...Rc6The evaluation moves from +1.28 to +3.23, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:12
  4. 34...Qd8The evaluation moves from +3.94 to +5.702:42
  5. 35.Qg2White wins after 35 moves2:44

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

Game 2: Ian Nepomniachtchi (2723) vs Wei Yi (2551)

FIDE World Cup 2013, 12 August 2013 · Black won (0-1) · 55 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 13.Bh6The first move after the opening line3:38
  2. 28...Rb4The evaluation moves from −1.53 to −0.374:55
  3. 38.Rxf2The queens come off5:42
  4. 41.Nc1Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here5:58
  5. 47...f5The evaluation moves from −4.79 to −3.336:30
  6. 50.Ne2The evaluation moves from −3.65 to −5.176:42
  7. 55...Kg7Black wins after 55 moves7:10

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

About these games

White castles queenside and aims to open the h-file with h4-h5, trade the Dragon bishop with Bh6 and mate on the kingside, while Black counters down the c-file with the e5 knight and the c8 rook. With 12...h5 Black blocks the h-pawn in place, so White can only open lines by sacrificing a pawn with g4. Black keeps a solid kingside and looks for play on the queenside and in the centre.

Radjabov–Kasimdzhanov followed White's sharpest plan: 13.Kb1, then 14.g4 offering a pawn and 15.h5 to rip open the h-file. After 16.Bh6 and 17.Bxg7 the Dragon bishop was gone and the score stood at +1.02. Black won material on the kingside, but White recaptured it with 21.fxg6 and kept the black king exposed. The turning point came at 28...Rc6, when the evaluation jumped from +1.28 to +3.23. After 30.Bxd5 White's queen and bishop pressed against the weakened king. The game ended at 35.Qg2 at +3.44, and White won.

Nepomniachtchi–Wei Yi went another way. Here 13.Bh6 Nc4 14.Bxc4 Rxc4 traded pieces, and the h5 pawn left White with no attack. After a long period of manoeuvring around 0.00, Black seized the initiative with ...b5, ...e5 and later ...b4 and ...d5. At 28...Rb4 the score slipped from −1.53 to −0.37. The queens came off at 38.Rxf2, and after 41.Nc1 Black stayed more than two pawns ahead. The passed b-pawn and the bishop decided the endgame, and Black won at 55...Kg7.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Radjabov vs Kasimdzhanov, FIDE Grand Prix Elista 2008
  3. 2:53Game 2: Nepomniachtchi vs Wei, FIDE World Cup 2013

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. h4 h5

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