The Monthly Dragon - GM Chris Ward’s INSANE 1987 Dragon Sacrifice

by Arne Kaehler
3/27/2025 – In this special March edition of the Monthly Dragon, GM Chris Ward takes us on a nostalgic yet deeply instructive journey through two of his own classic games. Rather than focusing solely on cutting-edge theory, Chris highlights the enduring value of tactical motifs, pattern recognition, and sharp attacking ideas — all with the fiery flair of the Dragon! | Photo: John Upham
In this first part, the emphasis is on themes and ideas whereas Part 2 and 3 focus on theoretical knowledge!

The Monthly Dragon

with GM Chris Ward

The British Grandmaster Chris Ward is always delighted if he can play his favourite opening as Black: the Sicilian Dragon.

Ward's knowledge about this strong opening is covered in several of his books, his blog on chesspublishing, and his three, greatly popular FritzTrainers in our ChessBase shop.

In this first part, the emphasis is on themes and ideas whereas Part 2 and 3 focus on theoretical knowledge!

With the new ChessBase series "The Monthly Dragon", the passionate Salsa dancer is showing us the newest tactics, plans, and development of this fascinating opening.

Lucky for us, the dragon is an opening, played by some of the best players in the world. This means, Chris probably won't run out of fuel for new content.

Full analysis by Chris Ward

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Kb1 Qc7 The immediate 11...Qa5? runs into 12.Nd5! i.e. Qxd2 13.Nxe7+ Kh8 14.Rxd2 12.Bb5!? A move that I hadn't seen before, but is actually quite logical. Though being played 'into thin air', White's intention is a 13 Ba4-b3 manoeuvre, where it will offer more cover to the king and help challenge for the diagonal including key d5-square. a6 13.Ba4 b5 14.Bb3 b4 Though outwardly falling in with White's plans, I decided to force the white knight into an early decision. 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 This is the correct way for White to recapture as he can now use the half-open e-file to pressurise Black's e-pawn. Although the light-squared bishop does appear a little blocked out, it does inhibit the e7-pawn from moving and besides upon 16 Bxd5?!, not only is Black not obliged to take it, but it could easily be hunted down by the black pawns. Rfb8 On 16... a5, White would obviously be forced to respond with 17 Ba4. 17.Ba4 In retrospect not best and White should probably crack on with 17.h4 with Qd7 preparing ...a5-a4 a different kind of fun. 17...Nxd5!? 18.Bxg7 Nb6 Unfortunately the immediate 18...Nc3+ fails because after 19.Bxc3 bxc3 20.Qd5 Rxb2+ 21.Ka1 , White has the critical squares well defended. 19.Qh6 19.Bh6 (or 19 Qd4 Nxa4 20 Bh6) Nxa4 20.Qd4 e5 21.Qxd6 Nc3+ 22.bxc3? Instead 22.Ka1 Qxd6 23.Rxd6 Nb5 and the game goes on. 22...bxc3+ 23.Ka1 or 23.Kc1 Rb1+ 24.Kxb1 Qb7+ 23...Rb1+‼ , mating or winning the queen is one beautiful variation I had seen when playing the judgement call 17...Nxd5!?. However that was after first noticing that 20... f6? was grim on account of 21 Qd5+ Kh8 22 Qf7 Rg8 23 Rhe1. Then 23...Ra7 would be met by 24 Bf8 and 23... Rae8 splattered by 24 Bg7+!. 19...Nxa4 20.Rd4 Nc3+! 21.Ka1 21.bxc3 bxc3+ leaves Black 2 clear pawns up in the event of both 22.Kc1 or 22.Ka1 Qb6 23.Qc1 Kxg7 22...Qb6 23.Kd1 Qb1+ 24.Qc1 After 24.Ke2 Black could take the rook in the corner or deploy Qxc2+ 25.Ke3 Rb2 Both excellent. 24...Kxg7 21...Qa5 22.bxc3 22.a3 bxa3 23.b3 which is the only other defence, leaves White material down after 23...Rb5, 23...Rb4 or even 23...Qh5. 22...b3 The key move. Black is clearing the way for his major pieces to enter the fray. 22...bxc3 23.Rh4 is way too slow. 23.cxb3 Qxc3+ 24.Kb1 Rxb3+! 25.axb3 Qxb3+ 26.Kc1 Easier for me to calculate was 26.Ka1 Qa3+ 27.Kb1 Rb8+ 28.Kc2 Rb2+ 29.Kd1 Qa1+ 30.Qc1 Rb1 31.Kd2 Rxc1 32.Rxc1 Qa5+ 33.Kd3 Kxg7 with an excellent endgame (though I suspected that 28... Qa2+ might be even better). 26...Rc8+ 27.Kd2 Rc2+ 28.Ke1 I know this sounds a little vague, but originally I had foreseen an idea whereby I exchange the active rooks and then pick off the one on h1 with a skewer. Indeed leading to a position such as below, I felt that I would have excellent practical chances with a queen and 6 pawns versus a queen, bishop and 2 (or even 3). However then thinking ahead to such a position, I uncovered a fantastic White resource. Sure 1 Bd4 could be met in principle by 1...f6 or 1...e5, and 1 Bf8 by 1...Qb2. No, the saving move is 1 Bh8!!. Then being not surprisingly unable to manoeuvre the queen to f8, I would have to settle for a perpetual check anyhow. Returning to the game position, actually it makes for quite a nice puzzle. One knows what one wants to do, it's just a matter of side-stepping the files and diagonals of the defending pieces. Qe6+! 29.Re4 Forced in view of 29...Qe2+. Qa2! Phase 2. Now the white rook is no longer on the d-file, it is unavailable to stop 30... Qb1+. 30.Kf1 Now Black has seventh heaven, there is no time to return: 30.Rd4 Re2+ 31.Kf1 Rf2+ 32.Kg1 Rxg2+ 33.Kf1 Qf2# 30...Rf2+ 31.Ke1 Rxg2! 32.Qc1 Qf2+ 33.Kd1 Qxf3+ 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Tebb,D-Ward,C-0–11998B76British Champs
Fossan,P-Ward,C23000–11987B76Arnold Cup

In this first part, the emphasis is on themes and ideas whereas Part 2 and 3 focus on theoretical knowledge!

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Arne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.
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