The Monthly Dragon - The curious move Ne4?!

by Arne Kaehler
5/19/2024 – The Sicilian Dragon is full of options for White, after the first 8-12 moves have been played. One of them is, to place the Knight on e4. But is this a good idea for White? Chris Ward doesn't think so, and shows us a couple of ideas for Black to deal with this unusual progression. Luckily, a Dragon player is in for some fun because some tactics are rolling in. | 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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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,170,31954%2421---
1.d4949,86755%2434---
1.Nf3282,62856%2440---
1.c4182,73156%2442---
1.g319,74556%2427---
1.b314,34754%2427---
1.f45,91748%2377---
1.Nc33,81651%2384---
1.b41,75948%2379---
1.a31,22254%2404---
1.e31,07349%2409---
1.d395550%2378---
1.g466646%2361---
1.h444953%2374---
1.c343551%2426---
1.h328356%2419---
1.a411460%2465---
1.f39346%2435---
1.Nh39066%2505---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 d5 10.exd5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 is still quite fashionable if White follows up with 11 Bh6 but 11.exd5 would pretty much compel White to accept the pawn offering. 10...Nxd5 11.Nxc6 11.Nxd5?! Qxd5 12.Nxc6 Qxc6 is rather nice for Black. 11...bxc6 12.Ne4?! A first for me as I can't recall ever seeing this move before. Of course we're used to 12.Bd4 e5 13.Bc5 Be6 and then 14.Ne4 but here White riskily deploys the move whilst the Dragon bishop still has a clear view of the white queenside. 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 of course being that main pawn sac line. 12...Rb8 A natural and logical response instantly targeting b2. Nevertheless there are a few sensible options: 12...Qc7 when after 13.Bd4 Bxd4 14.Qxd4 there was certainly no compulsion for Black to place a pawn on e5 any more conceding squares and indeed Rd8 15.Bc4 Bf5 was equal at best for White in Dos Santos,L (2014)-Ronka,E (2355) Chess.com INT 2022 12...Bf5 when after say 13.Bh6 Qb6 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Qd4+ f6 trading queens would merely leave Black with the far superior structure. 12...f5 13.Nc5 Qb6 and again Black benefits from not having a pawn on e5. So yes, plenty of choice! 13.Bd4 White can't contemplate conceding holes around the king as for example 13.b3? Bf5 14.g4? (okay admittedly this accentuates the situation!) Bxe4 15.fxe4 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 Bb2+ or simply 16...Qa5 with mate in mind! 17.Kxb2 Qxd1 demonstrates. 13...Bxd4 14.Qxd4 With the knight on d5 pinned to the queen, White is threatening c2-c4 and of course if he could trade a whole bunch of pieces then Black's queenside isolanis could be highlighted as big weaknesses. Alas for White neither of those outcomes will occur. Qc7 Unpinning the knight and ensuring the queens stay on as Black is planning on doing the attacking. 15.h4?! Apparently White hasn't read that memo though, still harbouring desires for a kingside offensive. This is too slow though and probably White should settle for 15.g3 controlling f4 or 15.Bc4 developing and connecting the rooks, both with approximate equality. 15...Bf5 16.Bc4 After 16.h5 Rfd8 suddenly big discovered attacks such as ...Nb4 enter the equation. Meanwhile highlighting danger is 16.g4? Bxe4 17.Qxe4 Rxb2 18.Kxb2 Rb8+ 19.Kc1 or 19.Ka1 Nc3 20.Qd4 Nxd1 21.Qxd1 Qe5+ 19...Nc3 16...Rfd8 17.Ng5? Black was already better but this is way too optimistic and punished accordingly. c5! 18.Qd2 or 18.Qf2 Qf4+ netting the bishop and so much more. 18...Qe5! Simply threatening mate on b2. 19.c3 19.Bb3 would see c4 (again netting the bishop and so much more) but the rest of this game is beautiful. 19...Nxc3‼ 20.Nxf7 Alternatively 20.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 21.bxc3 Rb1# 20.Qxd8+ Rxd8 21.Rxd8+ Kg7 and Black's initiative is devastating with mate or huge material gain inevitable. 22.bxc3 Qxc3+ 23.Kd1 20.Bxf7+ Kg7 merely delaying the problems for a move. 21.Ne6+ Bxe6 22.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 23.bxc3 Kxf7 20...Ne2+! 21.Qxe2 21.Bxe2 would survive longer but Rxd2 21...Kxf7 also rather good bearing in mind 22.Qxd8 Qxb2# 22.Nxe5 or 22.Nh6+ Kf8 23.Rxd2 Qc3+ 24.Kd1 Rxb2 and White's position is in tatters. 22...Rc2+ 23.Kb1 Rbxb2+ 24.Ka1 Rxa2+ 25.Kb1 Rcb2+ 26.Kc1 Rb1# is rather visual! 21...Qc3+ 22.bxc3 Rb1# 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Schneider,J2285Koepke,C23170–12024B762nd Bundesliga Ost 23-247.4

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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