Chess opening · ECO B32
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon
In the Accelerated Dragon, Black plays 4...g6 while the d-pawn is still on d7. The bishop goes to g7 as in the regular Dragon, but Black saves the tempo that ...d6 would cost and can often strike with ...d5 in a single move. White's most direct attempt to stop that is 5.c4, setting up a pawn clamp on d5.
- Rank by weighted share
- #118 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6
- 4... g6The g-pawn steps aside for ...Bg7, which will aim through e5 at the d4 knight and beyond. Leaving the d-pawn at home means Black can later push it two squares to d5, opening the center in one move instead of two.
The Maroczy Bind with 5.c4
With pawns on c4 and e4, White controls d5 and makes ...d5 hard to arrange. Black's position stays compact but cramped, and the usual plan is to trade a pair of knights so the remaining pieces have more room.
Black then looks for pawn breaks such as ...b5 or ...f5 that chip at the white chain, and for ways to put pressure on the c4 pawn.
Why White often adds Bc4
If White plays 5.Nc3 and develops normally, Black does not need to commit to ...d6. Once the pieces are out, ...d5 can arrive in one move and open the center. This is why White often puts a bishop on c4 in these lines: from there it watches d5 and makes the break harder.
What 5.Nxc6 changes
Trading on c6 right away gives Black a pawn on c6 after ...bxc6. That pawn supports a later ...d5, and the b-file opens for a black rook. In return, Black's a-pawn is left isolated.
Easing the Maroczy squeeze
5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Be2 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bg7
Black trades knights on d4, so fewer pieces must fit behind the d6 pawn. The white queen now stands on the g7 bishop's diagonal with only the f6 knight in between, so White usually steps it away soon, often after Be3, to d2 or d3.
Top replies by rating
Nxc6 leads at 1200 to 1399, and Nc3 takes over from 1400 up. At 2000 and up, c4 climbs into the top three, the move that builds the Maroczy Bind.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | Nxc6 59% | Nc3 24% | Be3 10% |
| 1400–1599 | Nc3 42% | Nxc6 28% | Be3 10% |
| 1600–1799 | Nc3 43% | Nxc6 20% | Be3 18% |
| 1800–1999 | Nc3 49% | Be3 16% | Nxc6 13% |
| 2000 and up | Nc3 51% | c4 25% | Nxc6 15% |
Related openings
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