Dragon structure
The Sicilian setup where Black plays ...g6 and ...Bg7 with pawns on d6 and e7, aiming the bishop down the long diagonal while White often castles queenside and attacks with h4-h5.
Black's pawns stand on d6, e7, f7, g6 and h7, and the bishop on g7 is the star, aiming down the long diagonal toward b2. The Black king usually castles kingside behind pawns on f7, g6 and h7.
White's most dangerous plan is the Yugoslav Attack: Be3, f3, Qd2, O-O-O, then h4-h5 to rip open the h-file, with Bh6 to remove the key defender. This leads to opposite-side castling, where speed is everything.
Black's counterattack is on the queenside and the c-file. Typical moves are ...Rc8, ...Nxd4, ...Qa5, ...a5 and ...b5, and the classic exchange sacrifice on c3 to wreck White's king cover. Black also uses the long diagonal, so pieces on d4 and c3 are targets.
The main errors are slow moves (each tempo counts) and misjudging the race. White should not play h4-h5 without the pieces ready, and Black must not wait. Practical tip: in these positions calculate concrete lines, because general plans without exact moves usually lose.
A neighboring idea is London system setup. The London system setup is a White plan that brings the dark-squared bishop to f4 before e3 can shut it in, then builds a sturdy triangle of pawns on c3, d4 and e3 that suits nearly any Black reply.
A neighboring idea is Najdorf structure. The Sicilian Najdorf pawn setup after ...a6 and ...e5, with Black pawns on a6, d6 and e5 against White's e4, which gives Black a firm grip on d4 but leaves a hole on d5 and a backward d6 pawn.
Whether "Dragon structure" suits your repertoire depends on the games you play. A first lesson with George Li maps what you play today and what to build next.
Related terms
Opposite-side castling occurs when the two players castle on different wings, one kingside and one queenside, which usually leads to a sharp race in which each side storms pawns at the enemy king.
A pawn storm is the advance of several pawns together toward the enemy king, usually after the kings have castled on opposite wings, intended to pry open files and diagonals for a direct attack.
King safety is the degree to which a king is protected from attack, as determined by its pawn cover, the defenders nearby, the open lines pointing at it and how quickly the opponent can bring attackers to the area.
An exchange sacrifice gives up a rook, worth five points, to capture a bishop or knight, worth three, in return for a positional or tactical gain that is worth more than the material lost.
Dynamic play is a style of handling a position that prizes activity, initiative and fast-changing threats over lasting structural features, accepting concessions such as weaknesses or material in return for time and attacking chances.
The Sicilian Najdorf pawn setup after ...a6 and ...e5, with Black pawns on a6, d6 and e5 against White's e4, which gives Black a firm grip on d4 but leaves a hole on d5 and a backward d6 pawn.
Openings where it occurs
Guides that go further
Most popular chess openings and win rates
The most played openings, how often White wins, and how the numbers change with rating, computed from public games.
What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid.
A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li.
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