Download PGN of July '05 Open Sicilian games
Sveshnikov/Kalashnikov Variation (& others) [B32-B33]
Let's start with another look at the move 12...Rb8:
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In Karjakin - Eljanov Karjakin plays the system that enabled him to smother Moiseenko in the European Championships earlier (see notes) but then gets hit by a big innovation and was soon in serious trouble!
'Man of the moment' Naiditsch surprised Sutovsky with the old move 10 Nxe7 in Dortmund:
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and won quickly, however, Emil missed a couple of good opportunities, see Naiditsch - Sutovsky.
Paulsen/Taimanov [B40 to B49]
Game 3 is another awesome display from Karjakin. First he makes a beautifully judged pawn offer, and then he overwhelms his opponent with a stream of precise tactics.
Richter-Rauzer [B60 to B69]
There has been quite a lot of agitation on the Forum about the line 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nc6 8. Qd3, which Shredder used to beat fellow computer program Diep:
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This does actually transpose play to a minor sideline of the Richter-Rauzer (where White plays 7 Qd3 instead of the normal 7 Qd2, and then follows up with 8 f4). Despite suggestions that this 'busts' the black system on the Forum I must say it all seems very tame to me, have a look at Forster - Sadler.
Scheveningen [B80 to B89]
The game Bologan - Shirov from a few days ago, may not be so important theoretically, but what a superb battle!
A game of fantastic complications, and a seemingly never-ending stream of sacrifices and obscure material balances that does great credit to both players!
Don't miss this one!
Najdorf [B90 to B99]
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 Nbd7 9. g4, planning an immediate g5, instead of 9...b5 or 9...h6, Black often prefers 9...Nb6 nowadays:
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and the theory is developing rapidly.
First, in Adams - Naiditsch, we look at the typical structure White is aiming for with complete control of d5, and how Black compensates this by playing ...f5 and gaining counterplay against the weak f3 and h2-pawns.
The game Baramidze - Naiditsch is another case altogether, as in the following position:
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Instead of the best move 14 Kb1, White tries 14 Qf2?! only to be mown down in double-short time after the thematic reply 14...Rxc3!.
I always thought that White's best move after 6 g3 e5 was 7 Nge2, but in fact 7 Nb3 seems somewhat more venomous:
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I was on the receiving end of this a couple of times in 2000 (see my notes), and notice that Mickey Adams has started playing it, and although he loses in Adams - Topalov, it was only because of a blunder in a dominating position.
I had vaguely noticed this game before I went to play the tournament in Montpellier, and soon regretted not studying it more seriously as I had to face this line twice as Black!
In fact, in Cornette - Kosten my opponent played a variation I had actually dismissed in Easy Guide to the Najdorf, but clearly had a strong novelty prepared.
Afterwards my opponent (who went on to make his first GM norm) told me that he had used a copy of my Najdorf book to prepare for this game!
Finally, subscribers interested in 6 Bg5 e6 7 f4 Nc6 should make sure that they look at the Richter-Rauzer section!
Next month will come to you direct from Chartres where I will be playing one of the strongest tournaments of my life - wish me luck!
Till then, Tony Kosten
e-mails
Please feel free to share any of your thoughts with me, whatever they are, suggestions, criticisms (just the polite ones, please), etc. Drop me a line at the Open Sicilians Forum, or subscribers can write directly to tonykosten@chesspublishing.com