Download PGN of March ’26 Open Sicilian games
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Sveshnikov 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 Ne7 [B33]
The game Kosakowski, J - Banusz, T saw the players enter an important theoretical position after 13...d5:
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White chose the common 14.Qe2, but it looks like Tamas was better prepared for this line. Black quickly obtained a comfortable position, and the careless 21.g3? could have put white's king in big danger. Luckily for Jakub, his higher-rated opponent first missed 21...f4!, and then carelessly played 23...Nh4? which led to a quick collapse.
Sveshnikov 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 b5 11.Bxb5 [B33]
In the next game, Shonazarov, O - Suleymenov, A, White went for the well-forgotten 11.Bxb5 in order to confuse his opponent. However, this approach quickly backfired: 12...Bb7!?:
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seemed to surprise Orash. He came up with a novelty 16.Nxe7? that was a nearly decisive mistake! Alisher's further play was convincing.
Kan 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Ba7 7.Qe2 [B42]
The game Pranav, V - Can, I saw the players enter a sharp theoretical position after 12...b4:
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White deviated from the previously covered Avila Pavas - Smirin with 13.Bxh7+. This sacrificial idea is quite risky, but it paid off: Black missed the correct defensive idea, and 17...Nxe7? let White decide the struggle by a direct attack.
Classical, Richter-Rauzer 6.Bg5 Bd7 7.Nxc6 [B60]
The game Gurel, E - Van Foreest, J saw an interesting theoretical discussion in the relatively uncommon line with 7.Nxc6. Jorden came up with an interesting novelty 12...h5!?:
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Black's position may be acceptable at this point, but the impulsive 14...f5? ruined everything - White's further play wasn't perfect, but practical and good enough.
Richter-Rauzer 6.Bg5 Bd7 7.Qd2 Rc8 [B61]
The next game, Bilych, O - Rozen, E, saw the players enter a sharp position after 13...Nxe4:
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Olexiy played the rare 14.Bc4, and it looks like it was a good practical choice. Eric reacted wrongly with 14...Nf2?!, followed by 16...f6? that allowed White to convert his huge advantage in style.
All in all, 14.Bh4, as in the previously covered Vokhidov - Bashirli, still seems the most promising.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.f3 [B94]
The game Chigaev, M - Areshchenko, A saw White employ the relatively rare 7.f3!? that takes the game into English Attack paths. It looks like Alexander got somewhat confused, as he didn't manage to handle it properly. In fact, the careless 11...Nb6? puts Black on the verge of collapse:
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However, Maxim was unable to take advantage of his superior development (missing a piece sacrifice on b5) and after committing a few mistakes he found himself in a dangerous position. The really critical moment came on move 20, when Alexander missed a golden opportunity to exchange his opponent's dark-squared bishop. The careless 20...Kh8? let White seize the initiative and eventually score a full point.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Qd2 e6 [B94]
In the game Pranav, A - Razafindratsima, T the players quickly deviated from the known paths. The position after 10.Be3 is already completely unexplored:
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There was nothing wrong with Black's position in general, but it feels like it took Timothe out of his comfort zone. In fact, the impulsive 12...b5?!, followed by 14...d5? could have invited big trouble. White didn't react correctly either, so the game could go have gone either way. It was eventually decided by the careless 25...e5?, letting White develop a crushing attack.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Qb6 9.a3 [B96]
The last game, Putnam, L - Bok, B, is an exciting discussion in one of the sharpest lines that was recently covered in L'Ami - Assaubayeva. In the critical position after 15...e5:
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White came up with an interesting novelty 16.Bh3!? This move hardly sets Black any serious problems, and there are a few reasonable way to deal with it. Benjamin's reaction was good enough, and the dynamic balance was kept till move 23. As often happens in such sharp positions, one step in the wrong direction turns out to be fatal.
See you next month, Michael
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