Download PGN of January ’26 Open Sicilian games
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Taimanov 5...a6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.Bf4!? [B46]
We start with Mohaved, S - Matlakov, M that can be considered as a kind of opening disaster. In the rare position after 10...Bd6:
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White played the new move 11.Qh5, and it fully paid off. For some reason, Maxim got confused and played 12...Ng6? This loss of tempo was crucial, and White managed to quickly convert his activity into a decisive attack.
Despite such a defeat, I don't think that 8.Bf4!? sets Black more problems than the usual 8.0-0.
Taimanov 5...Qc7 6.Be2 Nf6 7.Ndb5 [B47]
The next game, Paravyan, D - Carlsen, M, saw Black chooses the risky 8...d6. In the critical opening position after 12...e5:
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David played the 'soft' 13.Qd2?!, and it was strongly met by 14...exf4! As a result, Black managed to fully solve all the problems and score a full point after David's impulsive 32th move.
Undoubtedly, the strongest move 13.Qd3! is dangerous for Black, and it looks like Black certainly faces some difficulties after 8...d6.
Richter-Rauzer 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Be7 9.f4 Bd7 10.Nf3 b5 11.a3 [B68]
The game Amar, E - Narayanan, S saw a theoretical discussion in the relatively uncommon line with 11.a3. In the rare theoretical position after 18.g4:
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Black played 18...Rfc8? This 'innovation' basically led to a lost position, and White managed to convincingly convert the advantage in the final phase.
Of course, 18...Rab8 should be played instead, and there are also a few other decent options for Black, so 11.a3 can hardly be considered the most dangerous weapon.
Najdorf 6.Bd3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 [B90]
The rare 9.a3 was tried twice by Andrey in Doha. In Esipenko, A - Gukesh, D Black reacted with 9...b5, followed by 10...Be6:
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The drawbacks of this plan were nicely illustrated in the game: 11.a4 led to a somewhat better middlegame for White due to his un-opposed light-squared bishop. Black came under long-term positional pressure and eventually lost.
In the game Esipenko, A - Kosakowski, J Black played the flexible 9...Re8. This 'patient' strategy fully paid off: White's over-aggressive play with 17.Rae1? and 18.Bxg6 let Jakub obtain a much better endgame. The final phase was full of mutual mistakes, but Black's win is eventually well-deserved.
Najdorf 6.Bd3 g6 7.Be2 [B90]
The next game, Pranav, A - Grischuk, A, saw the players enter a relatively rare position after 9.h4:
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Alexander improved over Paravyan - Grischuk with 9...d5, and further logical play by both players ended in a draw on move 43.
In my opinion, 7.f3 is more in the spirit of this line, and 7.Be2 hardly offers White anything special.
Najdorf 6.a3 e5 [B90]
The game Grischuk, A - Vachier Lagrave, M saw Maxime demonstrates his deep knowledge of the line with 6.a3, as 18...Qf4! is an important novelty that allows Black to fully solve all the problems:
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Alas, already White's next move 19.Qg2? is a serious mistake that practically killed the intrigue. A well-deserved win by Maxime.
Najdorf 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 h5 9.Qd2 Nbd7 [B90]
The last game, Fandi, M - Yilmaz, M, saw White quickly deviate from the main theoretical discussions by playing 12.a4:
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As the route of game proves, this move doesn't offer White much, and Black can try for on more than just equalizing. Even so, the careless 23...Ne5? Let Mazen defeat his much higher-rated opponent in good style.
See you next month, Michael
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