Dragon: 9. ...d5 [B76]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Qd2 0-0 8.0-0-0 Nc6 9.f3 d5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.exd5 cxd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7
The Opening Tabiya
14.Qxa8?! The move I have always played when confronted with this variation. In retrospect I think it is a bit too greedy.
[14.Qc5! And White is a pawn up though Black certainly has some compensation in the open diagonals and files leading to the White K. 14...Qb7 15.Qa3
A Better Setup for White
And now Black has a few interesting tries. It is worth noting that White maintains an advantage throughout.
a) 15...Bf5 16.Bd3 Bxd3 (16...Rfb8 17.c3 Bxd3 18.Rxd3+/=) 17.Rxd3 Rfb8 18.Rb3+/=;
b) 15...Rb8 16.c3 Bf5 17.Bc4 Be5 18.Bb3 Bd6 19.Qa4 (19.Qxa7?? It is often dangerous to take the pawn. Here is one such case. One must always be wary after moving the pawn to c3 of leaving the c1-h6 diagonal unprotected! 19...Qxa7 20.Bxa7 Bf4+-+) 19...Be6 20.h4 a5 21.Bh6 Bxb3 22.axb3 Rfd8 23.Kc2+/=;
c) 15...Be6 16.c3 Rfd8 (16...a5 17.Bd3 Rac8 18.Bc2+/=) 17.Bd3 Bd5 18.Rd2 Be5 19.Rhd1 Bxh2 20.Be4 e6 21.Bxd5 exd5+/=;
d) 15...Qc7 16.Bd3 Qe5 17.Rhe1 Qxh2 (17...Be6 18.f4+/-) 18.Qxe7 Qxg2 19.Be4+/-;
e) 15...a5 16.Bd3 Rb8 17.c3 Be6 18.Bf4 (18.h4 Be5 19.Rd2 Rfd8 20.Be4 Qb5 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Qxe7) 18...Rbc8 19.Bc2 (19.Qxa5 Appears dangerous...but according to the computer is completely playable. 19...Ra8 20.Qb5 (20.Qc7?! Qxc7 21.Bxc7 Rxa2 22.Rhe1 Rc8 23.Be5 (23.Rxe6 Is an interesting try. 23...fxe6 24.Bc4 Ra1+ 25.Kc2 Rxd1 26.Bxe6+ Kf8 27.Bxc8 White has good compensation for the exchange.) 23...Bb3 24.Bc2 Ra1+ 25.Kd2 Rd8+ 26.Bd4 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 Bxd4 28.Bxb3 Be5+ 29.Kc2 Rxd1 30.Kxd1 Bxh2=) ) 19...Bf6 20.Rhe1+/=;]
14...Bf5 15.Qxf8+ Kxf8 16.Rd2 The only move to keep White in the game. [16.Bd3?! Natural looking but not the most accurate move. Black creates threats. 16...Qe5 17.Kd2 Bxd3 18.Kxd3 Qxb2 19.Bxa7 Qxa2 20.Be3 f5=/+; 16.c4? Suicide to open up the long diagonal for the Black Dragon B. 16...Qa5 17.a3 Ke8 18.c5 (18.Be2 Bxb2+! 19.Kxb2 Qe5+ 20.Bd4 Qxe2+-+) 18...Qa4] 16...h5 17.Be2 Kg8 18.Rhd1 Qe5 19.Bd4 Qxh2 [19...Qe6 A tricky attempt by Black to have his cake and eat it too. White has just enough time to counter the threats however. 20.Bxg7 Qxa2 21.Rd3! Only move, and setting a trap to boot. 21...Kxg7 (21...Bxd3?? 22.Bc3 Qa4 (22...Bxe2?? 23.Rd8+ Kh7 24.Rh8#) 23.Rxd3 Qf4+ 24.Kb1 f6 25.h3+-) 22.Ra3 Qe6 23.Rd2=] 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Bc4= *
