English Chess Forum

There is seemingly a new idea at an early stage in the Dragon. There's a book by Junior Tay and English player Brandon Clarke has been trying it.

This is how it runs

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Nc6 7, f3 h5


[SetUp "1"] [FEN "r1bqkb1r/pp2pp2/2np1np1/7p/3NP3/2N1BP2/PPP3PP/R2QKB1R w KQkq h6 0 8"]

The name Hungarian comes from Richard Rapport's use of it.

Lines seen so far are 8. Bc4 and 8. Qd2. The latter with the follow up 8. .. Nxd4 9. Bxd4 Bh6 10. Qf2.

Personally I'd be inclined to opt for a classical treatment with Be2 and f4, arguing the pawn to be misplaced on h5.

As with most "new" ideas it has been seen sporadically in the past - but databases don't show many master level games prior to about 2020.

Earliest game in Megabase 2022 is from 1959 and it is


Boris LadyZhensky vs George A Sanguinetti who were both rated below 2000.

There are a number of games played by Nikita Matinian (2470), two games from Junior Tay, one from BGI Clarke and none from Rapport.

Of course, these days one needs to consult Lichess.org and Chess.com games databases which I have not done as yet.

John Upham wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 13, 2022 3:19 pm

There are a number of games played by Nikita Matinian (2470), two games from Junior Tay, one from BGI Clarke and none from Rapport.

The article in Chess (page 36 September 2022) names it on the basis that Rapport used it in the World Blitz of 2021.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 13, 2022 3:29 pm

John Upham wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 13, 2022 3:19 pm

There are a number of games played by Nikita Matinian (2470), two games from Junior Tay, one from BGI Clarke and none from Rapport.

The article in Chess (page 36 September 2022) names it on the basis that Rapport used it in the World Blitz of 2021.

I'm sure you are correct Roger. I wonder why my MB games updates have not picked up that Rapport game.

There would seem however to be a reasonable case to call it the Matinian Dragon but he is Russian so I suppose that will not happen for some time.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 13, 2022 2:51 pm

The name Hungarian comes from Richard Rapport's use of it.

I think this naming is unfortunate and likely to cause some confusion, as there is already a Hungarian variation in the Dragon - the 'hyper-accelerated' version 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6

John Upham wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 13, 2022 3:54 pm

I wonder why my MB games updates have not picked up that Rapport game.

They are at the TWIC site

https://theweekinchess.com/chessnews/ev ... ships-2021

This has been a long time coming, as in many Sicilian lines ...h5 keep getting played earlier.

In one of the columns I used to write for Bermuda's weekly Mid-Ocean News I suggested that the move 2.g4 would one day be seen as the most dangerous response to the Sicilian, and that players of the Black pieces would avoid it with the move order 1...h5.

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 13, 2022 4:55 pm

This has been a long time coming, as in many Sicilian lines ...h5 keep getting played earlier.

In one of the columns I used to write for Bermuda's weekly Mid-Ocean News I suggested that the move 2.g4 would one day be seen as the most dangerous response to the Sicilian

I can remember someone at University, Mike Yeo probably, suggesting the sequence 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g4 or similar. Database research shows it had already been played in the 1960s.

Nearly. Safer to play 3. d3 first.


[Event "Cambridge Univ v Insurance"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1970.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yeo, Michael J"]
[Black "Carr, Chris D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B23"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1970.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. d3 d6 4. g4 e6 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nge2 Nf6 7. Ng3 Rb8 8. O-O
O-O 9. f4 Ne8 10. f5 Bd7 11. Nce2 e5 12. Nh5 Bg5 13. f6 Bxf6 14. Neg3 Bg5 15.
Nf5 Bxf5 16. gxf5 Bxc1 17. Rxc1 Nf6 18. Kh1 Nxh5 19. Qxh5 Qf6 20. Bf3 Kh8 21.
c3 g6 22. Qh6 Qg7 23. Qg5 f6 24. Qg4 g5 25. Rg1 Qf7 26. b3 a5 27. h4 Rg8
1/2-1/2

NickFaulks wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 13, 2022 4:55 pm

This has been a long time coming, as in many Sicilian lines ...h5 keep getting played earlier.

In one of the columns I used to write for Bermuda's weekly Mid-Ocean News I suggested that the move 2.g4 would one day be seen as the most dangerous response to the Sicilian, and that players of the Black pieces would avoid it with the move order 1...h5.

I think Mike Basman may even be one step ahead of you.

Chris Goodall wrote: ↑

Sat Sep 17, 2022 9:54 pm

I think Mike Basman may even be one step ahead of you.

I didn't get that at first but yes, I see the point.

That's the difference between between an original thinker and a genius.