Download PGN of February ’26 Open Sicilian games
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The Four Knights 6.a3 d6 7.Be3 Be7 [B45]
The game Oro, F - Yuffa, D saw White play the original 9.Qd3!?, as previously covered in Tabatabaei - Perunovic. Daniil replied with the rare 9...Nxd4, and the players soon reached the critical Diagram position after 12.0-0-0:
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Black should have started play with 12...a6!, as the routine 12...Rc8, followed by 14...Rc6? Made it possible for Faustino to quickly develop a crushing attack. Impressive play by the young prodigy!
Taimanov 5.Nc3 d6 6.g4 Nge7 [B44]
The next game, Alekseev, E - Smirin, I, saw the players quickly deviate from the main theoretical paths and enter a rare theoretical position after 10...Ne5:
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Here Evgeny came up with a quiet novelty, 11.a3, and after 11...h5 Black managed to develop interesting counterplay on the kingside. The balance was kept till move 17, when the impulsive 17...Nc4? made White's lead in development significant. GM Alekseev was precise in the final phase.
In general, the line with 6.g4 seems promising for White, although there are few ways to improve over Evgeny's play.
Richter-Rauzer 6.Bg5 g6 [B60]
In the game Tari, A - Delgado Ramirez, N the players entered a relatively rare line, where Black sacrifices a pawn. In the position after 12.0-0-0:
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Black played the natural 12...Qb6, but it didn't provide him with full compensation for a pawn. Moreover, the impulsive 14...f5?! Could have put Neuris in a critical situation had White played the calm 17.Rxd8! Instead, White returned the favor with 2 inaccuracies and let all his advantage slip.
In my opinion, 12...Qa5!? can be tried.
Scheveningen 6.Be2 a6 7.f4 Qc7 [B85]
The game Suleymanli, A - Ivanchuk, V saw an interesting discussion in the Scheveningen tabia that originally occurred from a Najdorf. In the position after 11...Bd7:
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White chose the ambitious and rare 12.Nde2. Vassily reacted well, but the inaccurate 17...Re8?! could have caused trouble. Luckily for him, Aydin missed a few great attacking opportunities and locked the kingside with 22.f6?! After that White got consistently outplayed. Despite a miss at the end, Ivanchuk's win is well-deserved.
Sozin, Velimirovic Attack 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 [B89]
The game Roebers, E - Yuffa, D is the fruit of excellent home preparation by Eline, who managed to confuse her higher-rated opponent by choosing a very aggressive Velimirovic Attack. In the position after 13.h4:
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Black played the natural 13...Rc8?!, but it turns out to be a loss of tempo. Moreover, the game was basically decided after 14...Nc4? as White managed to quickly develop a crushing attack.
I expect further practical tests in this sharp line. Black may opt for 13...b4 or 13...Qe8!?
Najdorf 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0-0 Be6 9.Qd3 [B92]
The game Supi, L - Diamant, A saw the players quickly deviate from the main paths and enter the position after 10.a3:
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10...Na5, as played by Andre, seems premature, and it allowed White to quickly expand on the queenside. A few further mistakes - 13...Rd8?! and 14...Nxd5?! put Black in a critical situation. White's victory would be the most logical outcome, but GM Supi's blunder at the end let to the opposite result.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 h6 8.Bh4 Qb6 9.a3 [B96]
In the game L'Ami, E - Assaubaeva, B the theoretical discussion in one of the most fashionable lines was certainly won by Black. In the position after 12...Rb8:
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Erwin went for the somewhat 'soft' 13.Bd3 which doesn't seem to set Black any problems. However, then he changed his mind and played the brave 16.Nd5? Bibissara didn't manage to find the most precise moves, but all in all Black's material advantage prevailed.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qf3 [B99]
The last game, Parkhov, Y - Bruzon, L, is undoubtedly the most exciting this time. In the theoretical position after 10.Bd3:
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Lazaro prematurely played 10...0-0?! and it allowed White to quickly extend on the kingside. It looks like Yair was equipped with decent home preparation, and the powerful 15.Nxg7!, followed by 16.Qh4! could be a part of it. The rest of the play was very dramatic and full of mutual mistakes, when the punchline is move 28. Had Yair played 28.Qxg5!! it would end in checkmate in a few moves. However, as often happens in such situations, one mistake can ruin everything. A lucky win by GM Bruzon.
See you next month, Michael
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