Download PGN of February ’25 Open Sicilian games
>> Previous Update >>
Sveshnikov 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 [B33]
The first game, Shabalov, A - Moiseenko, A, saw the players enter the well-known theoretical position after 13.Na3:
             |
Perhaps Alexander has messed something as he went for the dubious 13...b6? It let GM Shabalov quickly develop a powerful initiative on the queenside and eventually win the game in some style.
Kan 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Qf3 [B41]
The next game, Aizenberg, B - Smirin, I, saw Benny demonstrate his deep preparation in one of the trendy Kan lines. In the position after 8.Nc2:
|
|
Black wrongly decided to deviate from the exchange on c3 and played 8...Bc5?!. This led to a very cramped position, where 11...a5? turned out to be the decisive mistake. A convincing victory for IM Benny Aizenberg!
Kan 5.Nc3 b5 6.Bd3 Bb7 [B43]
Another discussion in the Kan took place in Tutisani, N - Pantsulaia, L. In the important theoretical position after 10...Ng6:
|
|
White played the ambitious 11.Nd5, but it doesn't seem to offer anything special. Moreover, the impulsive 12.b4? let Black take over the initiative and soon score a full point.
Undoubtedly, 11.Be3 should be tested soon.
- Sveshnikov
- Kan/Taimanov
- Classical Sicilian
- Najdorf <
Classical Richter-Rauzer 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.Kb1 [B67]
The next game, Lu, M - Bok, B, saw White opt for the relatively rare but flexible 13.Bd3!?:
|
|
Perhaps this plan got Benjamin confused, as he soon came up with a dubious innovation 18...d5?! Luckily for him, Miaoyi was tempted by 24.Qh3?! and let her attack slow down. The rest of the game was full of mutual mistakes, when the last one was 27.b7? that let Black develop a crushing attack.
Najdorf 6.Rg1 Nc6 [B90]
The game Sokolovsky, Y - Dovirys, S can be considered to be an opening disaster. In the rare position after 9.Be2:
|
|
Semen chose 9...Ne5? following all the preceding games. Unfortunately, this move puts Black on the verge of a collapse! His next mistake came soon - 12...e6? which let Yahli quickly open the game and decide it by a direct attack.
Despite such a defeat, 6...Nc6 still seems playable - there are few possible improvements over Dvorys's play.
Najdorf 6.a3 e5 [B90]
The next game, Popovic, D - Kosakowski, J, saw White deviate from the memorable game Svidler - So with 12.Qh5:
|
|
Black reacted well, but the inaccurate 15...Qc7?! let Dusan seize the initiative with 16.f4! The further complex play contained mutual mistakes, and the impulsive 27.axb4? put White's king under a crushing attack.
Najdorf 6.Bd3 Nc6 [B90]
The game Chigaev, M - Volodin, A has definite theoretical value for the Najdorf with 6.Bd3. In the position after 7...bxc6 Maksim went for an ambitious plan with an early fianchetto, that is followed by q-side castling. This choice didn't get Aleksandr confused - the precise 13...Bd7! made Black's position look attractive:
|
|
In general, it was a well-played game by both players, and only 25...Qd8? at the end allowed Maksim to score a full point.
Najdorf 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Qd3 [B92]
The last game, Erigaisi, A - Giri, A, saw Arjun employ the rare 9.Nd5:
|
|
that was recently successfully played by Fabiano Caruana. As usual, Anish came well-prepared, and after 11...a5! White didn't really pretend at claiming any real advantage. However, with 15...Ba6? Black started going astray, and it led to a difficult (and at some point lost) endgame. The final phase was very exciting, when Arjun's missed win is like a study.
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