Chessy
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Dunne Attack – Playing 2.g3 and 3.Bg2
Most Sicilian players are ready for 2.Nf3, 2.c3, or even 2.Nc3 — but 2.g3? Now you've already taken them out of their comfort zone. After 1.e4 c5 2.g3 d6 3.Bg2, you fianchetto your king's bishop before Black has even committed to a pawn structure. The engine gives +0.43, a small edge for White, and across almost 270,000 online games White scores a solid 48.9% (with another 4.3% draws). Below you'll find the key ideas, the most popular Black replies you need to know, and the engine's recommended plan — so you can step into the drill with confidence.
Play the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Dunne Attack: d6 against the engine
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Ready to put these ideas into practice? Play the interactive drill below — face the engine from the Lasker-Dunne position and try to convert that small opening.
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By playing 2.g3, you're signalling a kingside fianchetto setup without immediately contesting the centre. The bishop on g2 eyes the queenside and the centre — it's a flexible, positional approach. Your main idea: develop quickly with c2-c3 (supporting a future d2-d4 break) and Ne2, keeping your pawn structure flexible while the bishop on g2 adds pressure along the long diagonal. You're inviting Black to overreach or misplace their pieces, because most Sicilian players expect a more direct fight. In the Lasker-Dunne, you're not trying to blow Black off the board — you're accumulating small advantages: better piece activity, a safer king, and a centre that can be cracked open on your terms.
Engine's Best Path: Fianchetto Setup in Action
Stockfish's top continuation after 3.Bg2 is 3...Nf6 4.c3 e6 5.Ne2. Notice the plan: White doesn't rush to play d4 without preparation. By playing c3 first, you support a future d2-d4 push and give your knight a perfect home on e2 (keeping the long diagonal open for the bishop). Black's e6 blocks their own light-squared bishop, making it harder to challenge your g2 bishop. This setup is solid, flexible, and hard to punish — even if Black has played the Sicilian many times, they may not know the best antidote here. Practise this exact sequence in the drill to get comfortable with the move order.
What the Statistics Reveal
With 269,671 games in the database, we have a very reliable picture. Black's most popular reply is 3...Nc6 (100,851 games), where White scores 48.7% — perfectly playable and essentially a toss-up. The second most common reply is 3...Nf6 (95,550 games), also scoring 48.7% for White. Notice that all the top replies produce very similar win rates for White (between 48.4% and 49.2%), with one interesting outlier: 3...a6 (only 4,815 games) gives White 50.7%. That small bump may reflect the fact that a6 isn't a very useful move here — it doesn't help Black's development or challenge White's setup. The data says this opening is a fair fight, but you enter it with a slight engine edge and the element of surprise.
The Most Likely Black Replies and How to Respond
You don't need to memorise a book — just know what to expect at the table. Here are the big three: - 3...Nc6: Black develops a knight. Your plan is still c3 and Ne2, aiming for d4 later. A standard Sicilian ...e5 push is possible for Black, but your bishop on g2 will enjoy the open diagonal. - 3...Nf6: Black attacks your e4-pawn directly. Meet it with 4.c3 (defending the pawn and preparing Ne2). Don't panic and play 4.e5? — that creates weaknesses. - 3...e5: Black claims the centre, but this also blocks their king's bishop. Your g2 bishop becomes very happy. Continue with c3, Ne2, and prepare d4. In every case, the engine's recipe is the same: keep the centre solid, finish development, and only open the position when your pieces are ready.
Results across 269,671 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc6 | 100,851 | 48.7% |
| Nf6 | 95,550 | 48.7% |
| e5 | 21,916 | 49.2% |
| g6 | 18,920 | 48.4% |
| e6 | 17,134 | 48.9% |
| a6 | 4,815 | 50.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lasker-Dunne Attack a good opening for beginners?
Yes, it's an excellent choice for club players and beginners because it avoids heavily theoretical lines. You follow simple principles: fianchetto the bishop, play c3 and Ne2, and develop naturally. The engine gives a small edge (+0.43) for White, so you're not sacrificing anything.
Why does White play 2.g3 instead of 2.Nf3?
2.g3 aims to fianchetto the king's bishop to g2, where it pressures the centre and queenside along the long diagonal. It avoids the most booked-up Sicilian lines (like the Open Sicilian after 2.Nf3) and takes the game into calmer, positional waters where you can outplay your opponent with sound development.
What is Black's best move after 3.Bg2?
According to the engine and popularity, 3...Nf6 is the top choice, attacking e4 and forcing White to defend. The engine's recommended response is 4.c3, followed by 4...e6 and 5.Ne2. 3...Nc6 is nearly as common and also perfectly fine for Black.
Does White have a real advantage in this line?
Stockfish rates it at +0.43, which is a small but real edge for White. In practice, White wins 48.9% of games, Black wins 46.9%, and 4.3% are drawn — so the engine edge translates into a slight overperformance at the board.
How many games feature the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Dunne Attack: d6?
Over 269K Lichess games have reached the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Dunne Attack: d6 position. White wins 48.9%, Black wins 46.9%, with 4.3% draws — based on real rated games.