Annotated chess game

Interesting.

As would I. I hope we're going into the Dragon because I'm used to the Najdorf but not the dragon variation.

As noted above, I hope it's the Dragon. With that being said, what's the variation in the Dragon Sicilian?

As would I.

Known as the "classical" line of the Sicilian defense, despite the fact it is far less popular than the Dragon, Najdorf, or even the Scheveningen or Pelikan. The most classical of lines is the least trendy, it seems, in this case.

I always thought that the Nadjorf was the mainline, but I have things to learn with 5...g6 since you answered my question, Charles.

Kurt Richter, for whom half the variation is named, also was an early popularizer of my beloved Veresov Attack.

I can see why this is recommended. We're talking about preparing to castle and advancing a center pawn.

I think this is by far the most popular move here. But I have long harboured a liking for 7.Qd3. In fact I believe I once played that against you, Charles.

I would've prepared with 7.Bc4. But, I guess that castling long is better.

That would be my reason for playing something like this. But, at that risk, I would've played 7...Be7 for the same reason that he played ...e6.

The Richter-Rauzer is quite an aggressive line!

And, I'm not familiar with the Richter-Rauzer.

As would I.

Perhaps white was confusing or attempting to rather idealistically combine ideas from the Sozin variation (6. Bc4) into his Richter-Rauzer attack. But accurate move orders are very important in as highly theoretical a debate as the Sicilian.