Download PGN of April ’22 Open Sicilian games
>> Previous Update >>
Kan 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Ba7 [B42]
In the first game, So, W - Dubov, D, Black employed the relatively rare 7...Ne7, and soon the critical opening position arose:
             |
Here Wesley played 10.Nc3, allowing 10...d5! This standard break should have secured Daniil easy equality, but the careless 12...Rxa7? put Black in a difficult situation. At the end, GM Dubov had another great chance to stay in the game, but he erred with 20...Bxf5? and lost on the spot.
The Four Knights 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Bb7 [B45]
The game Saric, I - Abasov, N saw an interesting theoretical discussion in the line with 8...Bb7. In the position after 10.c5:
|
|
Nijat correctly played 10...Qb8, but his opponent was most likely well-prepared for this. In fact, it was Ivan who introduced an interesting novelty, 12.Be2!?, that seems to offer more then the previously played 12.a3. Alas, Nijat failed to handle this complex position properly, and after the careless 13...0-0? White quickly developed a crushing attack.
Taimanov 6.Be2 a6 7.Nxc6!? [B47]
In the next game, Neimann, H - Gretarsson, H , White went for the relatively uncommon 7.Nxc6!?, which was previously covered in Karjakin - Cori. On move 12 Black deviated from Cori's play with 12...0-0:
|
|
Hans reacted with 13.e5, and after 15...Nxf6?! White quickly developed a strong initiative along the h-file and won in nice style.
Still, I am not sure if 13.e5 was the best - Black could have played 15...Rxf6!, obtaining sufficient counter-play in the centre. Possibly, 13.f3, which was tried in a corr. game, poses Black the most problems.
Taimanov 6.Be3 a6 7.Qf3 Nf6 8.0-0-0 [B48]
An exciting theoretical discussion took place in Sokolovsky, Y - Volokitin, A. On move 10 Yahli played the rare move 10.Bf4!?, which seemed to confuse his experienced opponent. In the critical opening position after 14.b4:
|
|
Andrei wrongly played 14...Qc4? and his king quickly came under a strong attack. Luckily for the higher-rated player, White messed up with 18.Qd6?? and quickly lost.
It looks like Yahli's way of handling the position requires more practical tests.
Classical, Richter-Rauzer 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd3 [B62]
The next game, Ganguly, S - Gupta, A, saw White employ the side line with 7.Qd3, and the players entered an important theoretical position after 11.a3:
|
|
Here GM Gupta went for 11...Nxc2+?! and found himself under strong positional pressure. His impulsive attempt to release the pressure with 17...Rfc8?!, followed by 19...Bxc3? was nicely refuted by Surya's 21.Rd3! A well-deserved win for GM Ganguly!
Undoubtedly, instead of 11...Nxc2+, 11...axb5 is critical.
Classical, Richter-Rauzer 6.Bg5 e6 7.Bb5 Bd7 8.Qd3 [B62]
Another side line with 7.Bb5 Bd7 8.Qd3 was seen in Bjerre, J - Cheparinov, I. In the position after 12.0-0-0:
|
|
Ivan came up with a decent novelty, 12...Rc8!, that enabled Black tosolve almost all his problems. However, in the rook ending that occurred after some exchanges Ivan failed to find a proper plan and was slowly out-played. The really critical moment of the game came on move 33, when Jonas spoiled a lot with 32.c4? and eventually it was Black who scored a win.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Qe2 h6 8.Bh4 g6 [B94]
A long and well-explored theoretical line took place in Gadimbayli, A - Navara, D. In the position after 16...f4:
|
|
Abdulla came up with the dubious novelty 17.g5? Luckily for him, it managed to confuse GM Navara, and after 17...hxg5? White got the open g-file for his rooks. As a result, David failed to withstand the pressure, and another mistake, 22...Nxd5?, led to a collapse.
Despite such an impressive victory, I don't think we will see many followers for 17.g5? - had Black played 17...e4! White would find himself in a difficult situation.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Qb6 9.a3 [B97]
The last game, Bernadskiy, V - Blohberger, F, saw Black deviate from the main theoretical paths with 9...Nc6!?:
|
|
This should hardly confuse Vitaliy, as he had already faced it before. Still, on move 11 he went for the rare and somewhat toothless 11.Be2 and got no advantage. Moreover, the impulsive 18.g4? was energetically met by 18...a5! and Black took over the initiative. White was on the verge of collapse, but at some point Felix started to err as well. First, 25...bxa3? allowed some counter-play against Black's king, and eventually 30...Qb4? made it possible for GM Bernadskiy to decide the game in style.
In my opinion, 11.Qf3 is more challenging for Black.
See you next month, Michael
>> Previous Update >>
Please feel free to share any of your thoughts at the Open Sicilians Forum, or subscribers can write directly to support@chesspublishing.com