1.e4 c5 2.d6 d4 3.Nf6 g6 4.f3 O-O 5.Nc6 Bd7

1. e4

   White takes the center and signals direct play.

2. c5

   We answer with an active, asymmetrical fight.

3. d6

   We support ...Nf6 and keep e5 under control.

4. d4

   White opens the center, so we must exchange it right away.

5. Nf6

   We develop with tempo on e4.

6. g6

   The Dragon begins here, with the bishop on g7 as the key piece.

7. f3

   This move often prepares queenside castling and a direct attack.

8. O-O

   We put the king in safety before launching our counterplay.

9. Nc6

   The knight completes development and prepares pressure on d4.

10. Bd7

    We stay flexible before choosing the right queenside plan. Above all, remember Black's basic structure.

1.e4 c5 2.d6 d4 3.Nf6 g6 4.f3 O-O 5.Nc6 O-O-O

1. e4

   White takes the center and signals direct play.

2. c5

   We answer with an active, asymmetrical fight.

3. d6

   We support ...Nf6 and keep e5 under control.

4. d4

   White opens the center, so we must exchange it right away.

5. Nf6

   We develop with tempo on e4.

6. g6

   The Dragon begins here, with the bishop on g7 as the key piece.

7. f3

   This move often prepares queenside castling and a direct attack.

8. O-O

   We put the king in safety before launching our counterplay.

9. Nc6

   The knight completes development and prepares pressure on d4.

10. O-O-O

    White chooses opposite-side castling, so our priority will be the queenside. Remember that this castling move immediately fixes Black's plan.

1.e4 c5 2.d6 d4 3.Nf6 g6 4.Bc4 O-O 5.Bg5 Nc6 6.bxc6

1. e4

   White takes the center and signals direct play.

2. c5

   We answer with an active, asymmetrical fight.

3. d6

   We support ...Nf6 and keep e5 under control.

4. d4

   White opens the center, so we must exchange it right away.

5. Nf6

   We develop with tempo on e4.

6. g6

   The Dragon begins here, with the bishop on g7 as the key piece.

7. Bc4

   The bishop comes out early, but the white king has not committed yet.

8. O-O

   Both kings are safe, so the game will be less violent.

9. Bg5

   This move develops while putting pressure on e7 and d8.

10. Nc6

    We complete development without making concessions.

11. bxc6

    We recapture toward the center and keep an active structure. Here, Black's plan becomes more positional than tactical.

1.e4 c5 2.d6 d4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Bb5 Bd7 5.Bxc6

1. e4

   White takes the center and signals direct play.

2. c5

   We answer with an active, asymmetrical fight.

3. d6

   We support ...Nf6 and keep e5 under control.

4. d4

   White opens the center, so we must exchange it right away.

5. Qxd4

   The queen comes out too early and becomes a natural target.

6. Nc6

   We gain a useful tempo without weakening anything.

7. Bb5

   White wants to avoid more theoretical setups.

8. Bd7

   We remove tactical ideas on c6 before developing freely.

9. Bxc6

   The recapture centralizes our play and leaves us with no real problem. Here, the main thing is to play simply and win free tempos.

1.e4 c5 2.d6 Bc4 3.e6 O-O

1. e4

   White takes the center and signals direct play.

2. c5

   We answer with an active, asymmetrical fight.

3. d6

   We support ...Nf6 and keep e5 under control.

4. Bc4

   White avoids the Open Sicilian and looks for simple development.

5. e6

   We change the tone and refuse to give the white bishop easy squares.

6. O-O

   Black's development is clean and has no immediate target. Remember that here the main thing is to stay solid and simple.

1.e4 c5 2.d6 c3 3.Nf6 e5

1. e4

   White takes the center and signals direct play.

2. c5

   We answer with an active, asymmetrical fight.

3. d6

   We support ...Nf6 and keep e5 under control.

4. c3

   White wants to support d4 without entering the Open Sicilian right away.

5. Nf6

   We prevent White from getting too comfortable a center.

6. e5

   We block the d4 idea under good conditions. Remember that here the most important thing is to cut off White's plan before it starts.

1.Bc4 Nc6 2.Bd7

1. Bc4

   White develops the attacking bishop before the queen.

2. Nc6

   We stay within our normal plan and keep all our flexibility.

3. Bd7

   Black's setup is ready and the queenside will remain our base for counterplay. Remember that White's move order does not change our structure.

1.O-O-O

1. O-O-O

   White castles queenside without bringing the bishop to c4. This speeds up the wing battle. Remember that our answer will remain fast play on the c-file and the queenside.

1.h4

1. h4

   White immediately shows the intention to attack our king. Remember that this move allows us very concrete counterplay on the other side.

1.g4

1. g4

   White gains space, but also weakens many squares. Remember that the earlier their attack starts, the faster our counterplay must be.

1.Nxc6 bxc6

1. Nxc6

   White simplifies and hopes to reduce our activity.

2. bxc6

   We recapture toward the center and open the b-file for later. Remember that this Black structure remains very healthy and very playable.

1.Bg5 Nc6 2.bxc6

1. Bg5

   White's development is logical, but it does not create a concrete threat yet.

2. Nc6

   We calmly complete development and keep very simple play.

3. bxc6

   The recapture strengthens our central presence. Here, the main thing is to understand that White's kingside castling greatly slows the attack.

1.Bg5 h6 2.Nc6 O-O-O 3.Nxe4

1. Bg5

   The bishop comes out early to hinder our natural development.

2. h6

   We immediately ask the white bishop a useful question.

3. Nc6

   We gain time and keep very clean play. Remember that against Bg5, you should first chase the bishop before doing anything else.

4. O-O-O

   White's queenside castling immediately makes the center more tense.

5. Nxe4

   We take advantage of White's overload in the center. Remember that this tactical move often comes from the right development order.

1.Bg5 h6 2.Be3 Ng4 3.Nxe3

1. Bg5

   The bishop comes out early to hinder our natural development.

2. h6

   We immediately ask the white bishop a useful question.

3. Be3

   White retreats, but the g4 square becomes very useful for us.

4. Ng4

   We immediately attack the key piece in White's setup.

5. Nxe3

   The exchange removes a strong white attacker and simplifies our defense. Remember this theme as soon as the bishop is no longer protected by f3.

1.Be3 Ng4 2.Nxe3

1. Be3

   White develops naturally, but the bishop can become a target.

2. Ng4

   We use the absence of f3 to attack e3 immediately.

3. Nxe3

   The simplification favors us because it reduces White's attacking potential. Remember that ...Ng4 works especially when the bishop on e3 lacks support.

1.O-O Nc6 2.bxc6

1. O-O

   White's kingside castling removes a lot of venom from the direct attack.

2. Nc6

   We complete development without any particular urgency.

3. bxc6

   Our structure remains active and Black's center is not suffering. Remember that against this White choice, the game becomes more strategic.

1.d3 g6 2.h6 g5 3.Bg4

1. d3

   White chooses a calm system and avoids the open center.

2. g6

   We return to a Dragon structure without taking risks.

3. h6

   We refuse any lasting discomfort on f6.

4. g5

   We gain space and push back the white bishop.

5. Bg4

   Our bishop becomes active and already pins the knight on f3. Remember that here you should play simply, but with energy.

1.Be2 f4 2.Qb6

1. Be2

   White develops calmly and limits immediate exchanges.

2. f4

   White's plan often aims for e5.

3. Qb6

   We put pressure on b2 and force White to calculate right away. Remember that the black queen becomes active very quickly in this structure.

1.Be2 f3 2.d5

1. Be2

   White develops calmly and limits immediate exchanges.

2. f3

   White supports e4, but delays activity.

3. d5

   We open the center while our king is already safe. Remember that this move is the right answer when White plays too slowly.

1.Be2 O-O-O 2.Ng4

1. Be2

   White develops calmly and limits immediate exchanges.

2. O-O-O

   White castling relaunches the game on more direct ground.

3. Ng4

   We immediately attack the central piece in White's setup. Remember that this move is strong precisely because White has not played f3.

1.f4 Nc6 2.Nxc6 bxc6 3.Nd7 exd6

1. f4

   White threatens to occupy e5 with space.

2. Nc6

   We add a key defender to that square.

3. Nxc6

   White removes this defender and looks for a favorable structure.

4. bxc6

   We recapture toward the center, which keeps active play.

5. Nd7

   We refuse to simplify too early.

6. exd6

   Black's center remains flexible and healthy. Remember that against f4, control of e5 is the absolute priority.

1.f4 Nc6 2.Be3 Bg7

1. f4

   White threatens to occupy e5 with space.

2. Nc6

   We add a key defender to that square.

3. Be3

   White develops without forcing the e5 push yet.

4. Bg7

   We place the bishop on its best diagonal and keep very natural development. Remember that this version mainly requires discipline, not haste.

1.h4 h5

1. h4

   White wants to gain ground without waiting.

2. h5

   We stop h5 and fix squares that will serve our counterplay. Remember that this calm response slows White's attack a lot.

1.O-O-O Bd7

1. O-O-O

   White's castling announces a very direct plan against our king.

2. Bd7

   We prepare the right counterplay order before the pawn pushes. Remember that good piece placement comes before the attack itself.

1.g4 Be6

1. g4

   White gains space, but also weakens several dark squares.

2. Be6

   We develop a useful piece while eyeing c4 and a2. Remember that this move prepares very dynamic Black play without forcing anything.

1.Nxc6 bxc6

1. Nxc6

   White wants to simplify before Black's attack takes shape.

2. bxc6

   Even so, we keep an active structure and several useful files. Remember that simplifying is not enough to neutralize the Dragon.

1.Bc4 Nc6 2.Bd7

1. Bc4

   White chooses a more flexible move order, but the general idea remains the same.

2. Nc6

   We continue naturally without changing our structure.

3. Bd7

   Black's setup is complete and ready for play on the queenside. Remember that White's move order changes little when our base is correct.