Dragon 9..d5 line : White repertoire

We are presenting the second main variation in the 0-0-0 repertoire, Black plays ...d5 to reach the following position after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O d5!?

This makes sense as White did not play Bc4 controlling d4. However, White can here as well fight for an edge

10. Qe1 e5 11Nc6 bc6 

White must put presssure on the black center pawns.  12. exd5 Nxd5 13 Bc4 Be6 14 Ne4

 

This is where White has to be careful not letting Black attack the White king by e5-e4 and Rb8

14 ..Qc7 ( 14... h6  15. Bc5 Re8 16. h4 or 16.g4 +=) 15 Bc5 Rfd8 16 g4

here Black typically plays its knight on f4 to free herself from the pressure. The Knight on e6 will challenge the Bishop on c5. 16..Nf4 17 Be6 Ne6 18 Bd6 Qb6 we reach the following

White can continue with either g4-g5 or h2-h4 with pressure. The Bd6 is super strong.


Note 1: ..f7-f5 cannot be played without preparing it with ..h6

Note 2: Black can play 12..cd5 with the following 12... cxd5 13. Bg5 Be6 14. Bc4  14... Qc7 15. Bxd5 which is the best chance (15. Bxf6 dxc4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. h4 ) 15... Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Rfc8 18. Qd2 a5

Note 3: Black can play 10..e6 without the tension in the center. White should proceed with 11h4! with an edge as well