Download PGN of December ’23 Open Sicilian games
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Kan 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.a3 [B41]
Our first game, Bologan, V - Smirin, I, illustrates Black's recent issues in the line with 6...Qc7 well. After the aggressive 8.f4 Bb7 9.Bd3 Ilya deviated from the previously covered Tari - Neiksans with the dubious 10...g6?!:
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It is hard to believe, but Black's position is already on the verge of collapse both after 11.f5 and the 11.Qe2 played by Bologan. Black's kingside became very cramped after 12.f5, and all Smirin's attempts to create some counterplay were convincingly neutralized by Viorel's precise play.
In general, it looks like 6...Bb4 is a safer way, although Black often struggles to equalize after 7.Qd3 anyway.
The Four Knights 6.Ndb5 Bb4 7.a3 [B45]
The game Burke, J - Rahul, S saw the players enter a fashionable theoretical position after 13...Qb6+:
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Here GM Burke played the rare 14.Rf2, and it looks like his lower-rated opponent got somewhat confused. In fact, after 14...Rfd8 Black hardly gets enough compensation for his potentially damaged pawn structure. However, the timid 15.Na4 followed by 16.c3?! led to an equal middlegame. Luckily for GM Burke his opponent soon returned the favor with 25...Qb6? and was convincingly defeated in the endgame.
The Four Knights 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Bb7 9.Be2 c5 [B45]
The solid 8...Bb7 is equally common as 8...Qc7 nowadays, and we have 2 important games in this position. First, in Radjabov, T - Gelfand, B White opted for the rare 10.a3!?:
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As usual, Boris reacted with the most principled 10...f5, but 11.Bg5!? somewhat confused him - the position after 15...a5 looks promising for White, whose bishops are very strong. However, starting from 16.Qd2?! Teimour's play became very inconsistent, and he was convincingly outplayed. Even though Gelfand's play can definitely be improved, I expect to see more practical tests of 10.a3!? soon.
Another game, Albornoz Cabrera, C - Safarli, E, saw a theoretical discussion in one of the most researched positions after 13...e5:
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this is now much more common than 13...c4, as in Svidler - Artemiev. The first critical moment came on move 18, when the inaccurate 18...Re6?! could have put Black's king in big danger. White returned the favor with 19.Qxf4?!, however, and the players liquidated into a drawish rook endgame, where Black's defensive task doesn't seem very tough. Even so, at the end Eltaj failed to withstand the pressure, and 44...Kd6? eventually let Carlos score a full point.
Taimanov 7.a3 b5 8.Nxc6 [B48]
The next game, Blohberger, F - Kacharava , N, saw Felix employ a fresh concept, 9.h4!?:
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this confused his opponent somewhat. The timid 11...Qd6?! led Nikoloz into an unpleasant endgame, where he was doomed to passive defence. At some point White spoiled all his advantage with the impulsive 26.a4? but it still felt like Black's practical task is tougher. As a result, 37...Kd6? led to a quick collapse.
In my opinion, 10...Qc7!? looks like a better way to meet White's ambitious idea of pushing the h-pawn.
Najdorf 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Be7 9.Qd2 h5 [B90]
The game Dominguez Perez, L - Caruana, F saw an illustration of deep preparation by both players in one of the most fashionable Najdorf lines. In the position after 13.a4:
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Fabiano played 13...Bh4+, deviating from the memorable game Giri - Grandelius in the Archive. In general, it was a high-quality game, where Black's only inaccuracy, 29...Rf8?!, allowed White to seize the initiative on the kingside, but Fabiano's position still contained enough defensive resources.
Najdorf 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 h5 9.Nd5 [B90]
Another theoretical discussion took place in Bacrot, E - Jaracz, P, where the players were following Dominguez - Giri till move 15, when Black deviated with 15...hxg4 16.fxg4 Nb6:
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Etienne's novelty 17.Qa5 looks toothless when compared to 17.h4 or 17.g5, as previously tested in some corr. games. In fact, the endgame that arose after 17...Rac8 18.c3 Nc4 is quite comfortable for Black, and Pawel's defeat came as a result of a few mistakes in the later stages.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 [B96]
Our last game, Mchedlishvili, M - Krivokapic, M, saw Mikheil follow my recommendation from the notes to Pichot - Giri with 14.Qe1!:
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Seemingly, this got Marko confused, and he soon went astray with 16...Re8?!, followed by 17...Nc4? which quickly led to a collapse.
Despite such a defeat, it doesn't look like Black faces unsolvable issues after 14.Qe1! - 16...exf5! (as previously played in an online game) seems to offer Black acceptable play.
See you next month, Michael
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