XChess1971 wrote on 12/02/19 at 04:22:01:


Black is already equal. There is no slightly better with words. It has to be proven with analysis;)

I agree, that g5 is one of the critical tries against it. But I like the fact, that the positions sharpens up after the check on f6. I guess black is fine and the pawn on f6 can be a target if White is not careful

halbstark wrote on 12/01/19 at 13:36:57:


Black is already equal. There is no slightly better with words. It has to be proven with analysis. I do not have my laptop with me right now
. But on 17...Rd7 18.g5 doesn't appeal much to me. White gets a pawn in my position after the knight is traded on f6. I do not like the idea of giving my bishop either.

XChess1971 wrote on 11/30/19 at 15:25:47:


Thx for sharing your analysis. Nice to see, that there are still players, who admire the dragon as much as I do. I don´t have Shaws book. But I just compared the lines you gave with SF. 23...Nf4 seems to lead to lead to a small advantage for white at best. Which of your suggestions, do you consider best? 23...Qa6 24.Kb1 does also seem to be slightly better for white for example. 

Overall I think black should have good chances in this Qh4-line in a practical game. I prefer 17...Rd7 btw to keep the tension. But I am not a correspondence player, so there might be the difference:)

Well they let AZ pick its favourite openings and it seemed to end up with quite a stylistic preference to playing with fixed centers

There's a game in Game Changer where they forced it to play Chatard Alekhine (as black) and it tried to be too active too fast and got firmly splattered by Stockfish. A few games where it did very well as white.

I can't remember any Sicillian games from either side. 

One greatly amusing Pirc where it got made to play the Na6 Austrian, decided its position was not very good and randomly ditched a pawn. Still drew that one

bragesjo wrote on 02/17/19 at 12:35:20:


Thx bragesjo,

I remember vaguely a big thread about 9.000 d5 with 14.Ne4 and at some point ....Qb7, where Black actually never equalised, so it seems some refinements in some lines, but nothing really new. Did alphazero play the dragon?

If I am to give an theoretical recommedantins, Jones books are the best books for black, I am even mentioned in them in at least 2 lines. Negis book for white is also helpfull for both sides where the books met.

For black vs Bc4 yugoslav I would recommended Topalovs Rc8 Nxd4 b5 system unless white plays h4 before 0-0-0 then I would recommend  h5 and Soltis variation.

For black vs 9 0-0-0 i would recommend d5.
If 10 Kb1 I recommend Nxd4 e5 Nf5 exf6 exf6 system.
If 12 Bd4 lines I would recommend  Bxd4 Qxd4 Qb6 Na4 Qc7. I might not the most fun line to play but I think the position is balanced, it apperas to be  some hidden dynamic elemetns for black in the postion that compensated the worse pawn structure
If 10 Qe1 line I recommened e5, particaully since the trendy 14 Kb1 is not much to have for white since the position leads to very forced play after a5!! h4 Qc7!.

g4 Yugoslav I would recommend Be6. 

For white I would recommend 9 0-0-0 yugoslav meeting d5 with Qe1 and play like Shaws book and thus playng  the old mainline with 14 Ne4 insted of the trendy 14 Kb1 in e5 line. 

Hi.

I too find this interesting and would like to thank mr. Bragesjo for  taking the time to note his experiences.

For what it is worth. In terms of Sicilians the Dragon is the only one that I've ever truly felt like playing. Maybe I will give it a go at some point.

Have a nice day.