Download PGN of March ’25 Open Sicilian games
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Sveshnikov 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 f5 11.exf5 Bxf5 12.c3 Bg7 [B33]
We start with Dvoirys, S - Aizenberg, B, which can be considered a sort of opening disaster. In the rare position after 16...Rb8:
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White came up with a novelty, 17.b4, but it definitely doesn't set Black any new problems. Moreover, it was White whose practical task seemed tougher, and the careless 22.Nxe6? followed by 23.Bh3? let Benny quickly develop a crushing attack.
Taimanov 5.Bf4 [B44]
In Dardha, D - Maghsoodloo, P Black chose a rare and risky way to meet 5.Bf4. In the position after 7...Nge7:
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White deviated from the most aggressive continuations and played 8.Qd2, alliowing his opponent to build a strong pawn centre with 8...d5! However, Daniel's approach fully paid off as Parham ruined his position with 3 mistakes in a row and resigned on move 22. I wouldn't recommend 5...Qf6, although there are few ways to improve Black's play in this game.
The Four Knights 6.Qd3 [B45]
The next game, Sokolovsky, Y - Lavrentic, M, saw an interesting theoretical discussion in one of the sidelines with 6.Qd3. In the position after 12...Qd6:
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White played 13.Bg5!? Matic reacted with 13...h6, allowing his opponent to grab the pawn. For some reason, Yahli refused to do so, and it resulted in a balanced endgame, where his strong bishops provided Black with excellent counterplay. The final phase of the game was very dramatic, when both players missed their winning chances at some point. Alas, then the impulsive 41.Rf2? cost Yahli half a point.
Najdorf 6.Nb3 Nc6 [B90]
The game Maurizzi, M - Ivanchuk, V saw White improves over Bartel - Gelfand with 9.g5:
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but after 9...Nd7 the move 10.a3 doesn't seem to pose Black any major problems. Still, the impulsive 12...b4?! led Black into an unpleasant position that he struggled to defend for a long time. A really critical moment came on move 28, when Vasyl underestimated the pin with 28...Rb8?.
A very spectacular and exciting game!
Najdorf 6.Qd3 Nbd7 [B90]
The game Maurizzi, M - Yakubboev, N was even more dramatic: in the position after 8.a4 Nodirbek played the natural 8...b4?:
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that already invited big trouble! Even though GM Maurizzi failed to handle the position properly, Black still found himself in a difficult endgame. Luckily for GM Yakubboev, White first let the advantage disappear with 25.Bc6?, and then carelessly put his king in a checkmate net with 50.Rc5??.
In my opinion this game illustrates that 6.Qd3 can be used as a surprise weapon from time to time.
Najdorf 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 h5 8.Bg5 Be7 [B90]
The next game, Najer, E - Zabotin, A, also has a definite theoretical value, although in the key position after 13.Bb3:
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Alexander went for a faulty sacrifice 13...Rxc3? and quickly got into a lost position. It looks like the correct 13...Rh5! offers Black acceptable play. Perhaps, 8...Be7 should be tested some more soon.
Najdorf 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Qd3 [B92]
In Esipenko, A - Rozum, I Black decided to deviate from the recently covered Erigaisi - Giri with 9...Nbd7:
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but it looks like it doesn't offer Black comfortable play. However, Andrey didn't manage to handle the opening phase properly, and the timid 18.Re1?! allowed Black to successfully regroup his forces and obtain decent counterplay. Luckily for GM Esipenko, his lower-rated opponent soon returned the favor with 26...Qd7? Even after that the game could have gone either way, but all in all Esipenko's play was more precise.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Bc4 Qb6 8.Bb3 e6 9.0-0 [B94]
We end with another theoretical failure - in Tzidkiya, Y - Gorshtein, I the players entered a relatively rare position after 13.f4:
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Black can choose between a few decent possibilities, but the careless 13...b5? is exactly what White expected - after 14.e5 White's huge lead in development was quickly converted.
See you next month, Michael
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