Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...g6/3. c4

Sicilian - Hyper-Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind

The Maróczy Bind Variation of the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon is a variation where white advances the c4 before playing Nc3, this also helps controlling the d5 square, after black fianchettos the bishop on g7, white will play Nc3 and d4, build a big and stable center, Similar to the Staunton-Cochrane Sicilian where white play e4, c4, and aims for d4.

Possible moves for black

After the move c4, black can decide on many moves but the most popular ones include:

3... Bg7

Possibly the most common one, the whole idea of the move g6 is to play fianchetto the bishop in the g7 square, after that move, white has mainly two great options, d4, immediatelly striking at the center, or, a slower move, which is Nc3, white can alternativelly play the move d3, guarding both pawns, but the pawn on d3 will be an weakness for white as well as giving play time to develop both knights and then play d6, which wont be a weakness since they didn't commit the e-pawn foward.

3... Nc6

This is a possible transpotion to the accelerated dragon, since after 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 and Bg7, the position is the same as if had commited the c-pawn after the move Nc6 instead of Bg7,white can choose not to transpose with the move Nc3, but the position will not be as great, according to modern-day engines like Stockfish.

Sicilian - Hyper-Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pp1ppp1p/6p1/2p5/2P1P3/5N2/PP1P1PPP/RNBQKB1R b
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4