Download PGN of May ’24 Open Sicilian games
>> Previous Update >>
Sveshnikov 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 [B33]
We start with Esipenko, A - Oparin, G where Black played the relatively rare 11...Bf5:
             |
in one of the most fashionable Sveshnikov lines. Andrey came up with the natural novelty 16.Bb4 that may set Black some practical problems. However, White soon wrongly decided to waste a tempo to cover his central pawn, and Black's issues were solved. Alas, this game was decided by a blunder at the very end.
The Four Knights 6.Ndb5 Bb4 7.Bf4 [B45]
In the game Mishra, A - Raja, R the players entered an extremely sharp theoretical position after 11...Nd4:
|
|
Abhimanyu chose the rare 12.Qd3 in order to confuse his lower-rated opponent, but Rithvik responded well with 15...Ne4!. However, 17...Nxc3?! followed by 19...Ke7? led to a quick collapse.
In general, Black seems to have several decent ways to meet the rare 12.Qd3.Taimanov 7.Qf3 Nf6 8.0-0-0 Ne5 9.Qg3 b5 [B48]
The game Albornoz Cabrera, C - Aryan, C saw the players following Carlos's previous encounter till move 19:
|
|
Then White deviated with 20.Bxg2 but it looks like it didn't confuse Black - the excellent 24...f6! allowed Black to solve all his issues. A high-quality game!
Sozin, Velimirovic Attack 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qe2 [B89]
In the next game, Ivanchuk, I - Baklan, V, Black mishandled the well-known Sozin line with 8...Bd7?! and quickly got into a dangerous position.
|
|
Ivanchuk's play was very creative and strong till move 25, when the impulsive 25.Rd7? allowed Black to escape. This game is actually a good illustration of White's attacking potential in the Sozin.
Najdorf 6.Rg1 g6 [B90]
In the game Motylev, A - Warmerdam, M Black took a major risk by playing 10...Nh5 in a rare theoretical position:
|
|
This idea was fully justified as Alexander wrongly played 13.Qd3?, and then ruined his position with 16.Qxb7? - White's king quickly came under a stunning attack. It looks like 13.f3! would be a clear refutation of Warmerdam's new idea, and I wonder if we should see further practical tests of it.
Najdorf 6.Rg1 b5 [B90]
Another theoretical discussion the 6.Rg1 line took place in Kacharava, N - Yilmaz, M, where Nikoloz played the new move (for our site) 12.0-0-0!?:
|
|
It looks like it was all part of Kacharava's home preparation, including the creative 16.h4. Altogether this got Mustafa confused, and he went for the faulty 16...Qxh4?! which allowed White to quickly develop a strong attack. Undoubtedly, 16...Qc7 should be tested soon.
Najdorf 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.h4 [B92]
In the next game, Aditya, M - Cardoso Cardoso, J, White chose the rare 8.h4 in order to confuse his opponent:
|
|
This decision fully paid off as after 10.Bf4 Black prematurely played 10...d5? This led to an extremely dangerous middlegame, where Black's king came under a strong attack. The really critical moment came on move 21, when Mittal missed 21.Qg4! and liquidated into a slightly better endgame. Black managed to cope with his defensive job , so the game ended in a draw.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Qe2 [B94]
We end with Gorshtein, I - Niemann, H, that can definitely be considered an opening disaster. In the relatively rare, but important position after 10.e5:
|
|
Hans carelessly played 10...b4??, and even though White missed the winning 12.Nf5!, Black's position remained extremely bad. At the end of the game Hans surprisingly got a random chance to save the game, but he missed this as well.
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