Openings · B27

Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6

356 master games · White 49% · Draws 29% · Black 22%

ECO code
B27
Moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6
Family
Sicilian Defense
To move
White
Master games
356
Average game length
47 moves
Years covered
1862–2026

Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon is the opening filed under ECO code B27, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family and is known as the Hyperaccelerated Dragon; in the resulting position it is White to move.

Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 356 games on this line — the 272nd most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1862 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 207 games. An average game here lasts 47 moves.

White wins 49% of those games, 29% end in a draw, and Black wins 22%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores worse here by 6 percentage points. Draws are less common here than usual, by 6 points.

From this position the most popular move is 3.d4, played in 176 games, followed by 3.c3 (110) and 3.Bc4 (29). After 3.d4 White scores 45% and Black 27%.

The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Shirov,A (26 games); on the Black side, Nakamura,Hi (28).

Reading about an opening is not the same as knowing it. Play this line against the Katuranga bot, then let the engine mark your brilliant moves, mistakes and blunders in Analysis — the fastest way to find out which of these moves you actually understand.

Results in master games

  • White 49% (173)
  • Draws 29% (104)
  • Black 22% (79)

Most played continuations

MoveGames White / draws / BlackLeads into
3.d4 176 45/28/27 —
3.c3 110 54/31/15 —
3.Bc4 29 51/28/21 —
3.c4 29 55/28/17 —
3.Nc3 5 40/20/40 —
3.g3 3 33/67/0 —
3.h4 3 67/33/0 —
3.d3 1 0/0/100 —

How the position is reached

Played most often by

As White

  • Shirov,A 26
  • Caruana,F 21
  • Vachier Lagrave,M 21

As Black

  • Nakamura,Hi 28
  • Abdusattorov,Nodirbek 25
  • Larsen, Bent 25

Games per decade

  • 1860s 1
  • 1890s 1
  • 1900s 1
  • 1920s 1
  • 1950s 8
  • 1960s 19
  • 1970s 5
  • 1980s 4
  • 1990s 29
  • 2000s 32
  • 2010s 48
  • 2020s 207

Master games on this line

WhiteBlack ResultYearEvents
Carlsen,MLazavik,Denis 1/2-1/22026 SpeedChess Final 2025
Nepomniachtchi,IVakhidov,J 1/2-1/22026 Titled Tue 3rd Feb 2026
Grischuk,AVakhidov,J 1/2-1/22026 Titled Tue 21st Apr 2026
Erigaisi,ArjunTaher,Yoseph Theolifus 1/2-1/22026 3rd 3-0 Thu 5th Mar 2026
Nepomniachtchi,IVakhlamov,I 1/2-1/22026 Titled Tue 10th Mar 2026
Maghsoodloo,ParhamGrischuk,A 1/2-1/22026 Titled Tue 16th Jun 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon?

It is the opening with ECO code B27, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon good for White or for Black?

In 356 master games on this line White wins 49%, 29% are drawn and Black wins 22%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.

What is the main continuation of the Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon?

3.d4 — played in 176 of the master games on this line.

Which grandmasters play the Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon?

On the White side Shirov,A (26), Caruana,F (21), Vachier Lagrave,M (21); on the Black side Nakamura,Hi (28), Abdusattorov,Nodirbek (25), Larsen, Bent (25).

Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).

Try this line on the board

Play this opening against the Katuranga bot, then review the game — the engine marks every brilliant move, mistake and blunder.