Bishop's Bounty On Twitter
 |
| "Face your dragons and your dreams will take flight." |
The Yugoslav Attack
Unleashing the Dragon Slayer in Sicilian Chess
The Yugoslav Attack is one of the most aggressive and popular responses to the Sicilian Dragon Variation. It is characterized by a series of moves that set up a powerful kingside attack for White. The key elements of the Yugoslav Attack include:
- White's kingside fianchetto with 6.Be3: This move prepares to support a pawn storm on the kingside.
- The pawn move 7.f3: This move supports the center and prepares for a kingside pawn push.
- The queen move 8.Qd2: This move sets up for queenside castling and connects the rooks.
- Queenside castling (0-0-0): Usually occurring on move 10, this move places the king on the queenside, allowing White to launch a full-scale attack on the kingside.
is White's aggressive setup with opposite-side castling, aiming for a kingside attack while Black typically seeks counterplay on the queenside.
Key Ideas and Plans
- White's Strategy: White aims to launch a powerful kingside attack, often involving moves like h4-h5, g4, and Bh6 to open lines against Black's king. The move 9.Bc4 places the bishop on a strong diagonal, targeting the f7 square and preventing Black from playing ...d5 easily.
- Black's Counterplay: Black typically seeks counterplay on the queenside, often involving moves like ...a6, ...b5, and ...Rc8. The fianchettoed bishop on g7 plays a crucial role in defending the king and exerting pressure on the center and queenside.
Main Line Continuations
- 9...Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8: This is one of the main lines where Black develops the rook to the open c-file, preparing to counter-attack on the queenside. White usually continues with 11.Bb3 to avoid the discovered attack on the bishop.
- 9...Bd7 10. O-O-O Qa5: Another popular line where Black immediately pressures the queenside. White typically responds with 11.Bb3, and the game can proceed with moves like 11...Rfc8 and 12.h4 Ne5.
Conclusion
The Yugoslav Attack in the Sicilian Dragon is a highly theoretical and sharp line, requiring both sides to be well-prepared. White's aggressive intentions are met with Black's solid defensive resources and counter-attacking chances, making it a rich and complex battleground
WIKIPEDIA PAGE
Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, 9.Bc4
- B75 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 (Yugoslav Attack)
- B76 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0
- B77 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4
- B78 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0
- B79 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Qa5 11.Bb3 Rfc8 12.h4
Yugoslav Attack Articles
Delve into the theory, history, and key variations of the Yugoslav Attack.
Fire on the board: The Yugoslav Attack in the Sicilian Dragon - WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos - Intro and discussion of the Attack with 3 annotated Games showing how Black can defeat this variation.
Sicilian Dragon: Black’s Fantastic Win Against the Yugoslav Attack - Article w/ 13 Min Embedded Video and ideas for Black - Remote Chess Academy
Destroy Your Rivals: Chess Yugoslav Attack! - Im Aberto Chueca - Main variations and Ideas for White and Black
Karpov and the Yugoslav Attack in Sicilian Dragon - Chess.com Article - Karpov vs. Kortchnoi Candidates 1974 (finale)
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Modern Line - ragchess- Opening Guide for Main Line
Games DataBases
Analyze real-life games featuring the Halasz Gambit and see how it's played in practice.
Chessgames.com
Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack (B77) - 1340 Games
365Chess.com
- B75: Sicilian, dragon, Yugoslav attack 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 - 19,725 Games
- B76 : Sicilian, dragon, Yugoslav attack, 7...O-O - 12,224 games (2 Sub-Variations)
- B77: Sicilian, dragon, Yugoslav attack, 9.Bc4 - over 9000 Games (Broken into 3 Subvariations)
- B78 : Sicilian, dragon, Yugoslav attack, 10.O-O-O - 6115 games
- B79 : Sicilian, dragon, Yugoslav attack, 12.h4 - 679 Games
Yugoslav Attack LiChess Studies
Explore interactive training tools to solidify your understanding of the opening's concepts.
SicilianDragon/Yugoslav Attack: Variations Overview - 10 Chapter Study - Theory on different Variations.
Yugoslav Attack - Variations - 12 Chapter Study (top of Page) - Main Lines, old Lines and drawing Lines with very In-depth Analysis and explanations.
Puzzles
Test your tactical skills with puzzles specifically designed for the Yugoslav Attack.
'Tactics in the Sicilian' series - 13 chess puzzles from the Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack (ECO B77)
Sicilian Yugoslav Attack Video Lessons
Sicilian Dragon (part 1), Yugoslav Attack | Sicilian Defense Theory - 31 Min - Hanging Pawns - Going over the most popular variation of the Dragon, the Yugoslav Attack (starting with 6. Be3)
Ultra-Aggressive Sicilian Dragon, Yugoslav Attack - Chess Openings Explained - 45 Min - See two games featuring the Yugoslav Attack, the Dragon's "ultimate test."
The Sicilian Dragon | Yugoslav Attack | Motifs and Strategies | Chess Openings -28 Min IM Astaneh - The main lines of the Yugoslav Attack in the Sicilian Dragon, which is not just the mainline for white against the Sicilian Dragon, but it is the toughest challenge for Sicilian Dragon players to face.
Sicilian Dragon Variation Plans and Pawn Structure, Yugoslav Attack (Chess Openings) - 17 Min - Mostly about the Sicilian dragon plans but with a section about the most dangerous setup for white, the Yugoslav attack.
Sicilian Dragon - Yugoslav Attack Theoretical Developments (Reddit OOTW Updated) - 77 Min - The DEEPEST dive possible into all of the hottest new tech in the Yugoslav Attack variation of the Sicilian Dragon.
Chess Openings Abridged #1: Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation; Yugoslav Attack - 6 Min - Video Below - A new abridged format! Nick Risko introduces the ideas of chess openings quickly, so you can use them right away. (New 6/22/2024)
Yugoslav Attack Game Videos (W/analysis)
Karpov vs. Korchnoi | Candidates Final 1974 - GM Ben Finegold - 45 Min (Game 1 Yugoslav Attack)
Winning after 18 moves with the Yugoslav Attack | Tal vs Sviridov - 10 Min IM Astaneh
Yu Yangyi Destroys Sicilian Dragon With Yugoslav Attack - 3 Min
Waiting Game Against the Sicilian Dragon Yugoslav Attack | Rapid Game - 21 Min
Monstrous YUGOSLAV ATTACK! -Stockfish 14 vs Leela C Zero - Dragon Sicilian-Yugoslav Attack Main Line - 20 Min
Sicilian Dragon: Black’s Fantastic Win Against the Yugoslav Attack - 13 Min
MVL vs Nakamura Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack - 13 Min
Anatoly Karpov vs Evgeny Gik - Moscow 1968 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon (B77) - 7 Min
Bobby Fischer slayed the Sicilian Dragon - vs Larsen 1958 - 5 min
GM Christopher Ward Amazing Immortal Sicilian Dragon Game - vs Philip Morris - 12 Min
Garry Kasparov vs Jeroen Piket - Tilburg 1989 - Sicilian Defense: Dragon (B77) - 9 Min
RagChess Videos
- The Deadly Yugoslav Attack on the Sicilian Dragon Variation - 15 Min - A game I played in real time of my successful attack on my opponent, shredding his kingside open.
- How to Play the Sicilian Dragon vs the Yugoslav Attack - 16 Min Video - How to play against the Yugoslav, Acc. dragon and Hyper Acc. dragon.
- My Chess Tournaments | Sicilian Dragon Vs Yugoslav Attack | US Amateur East Recap | Game 6 - 14 Min - game recap and analysis