Download PGN of April '13 Anti-Sicilian games
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c3-Sicilian: 2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 [B22]
Ankit - Mchedlishvili features the 10.Rd1 line:
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White plays for a minimal edge (cynics may say "for the draw"), and neither side looked like creating any imbalance in a typical encounter.
Howell - Svidler features one of David Howell's pet lines with 9.a3:
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An IQP position arose where White had some initiative before things fizzled out to a draw.
c3-Sicilian: 2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 [B22]
Collins - Wells features the 9.Na3!? gambit line previously endorsed on these pages by John Shaw:
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The Scottish GM had concluded that White enjoys dangerous compensation for the pawn and this was confirmed in the game, where Black may already be in some trouble after the natural 13...Bg7.
Rossolimo Variation 3...e6 [B30]
This line featured in two of Magnus' Carlsen's encounters in the Candidates tournament. In round 7 Radjabov got a terrific attacking position in the 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.b3 line:
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Magnus held but the ball is in White's court in an unclear variation, see Carlsen - Radjabov.
In round 10 Magnus won a smooth game against Gelfand in the less committal 4.0-0 Nge7 5.Re1 line:
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Black shouldn't have many problems from a theoretical perspective but the arising positions are more like a Rubenstein French than a Sicilian and this might lead to practical difficulties for Sveshnikov players, see Carlsen - Gelfand.
Moscow Variation: 3...Nd7 [B51]
Baramidze - Volokitin features an aggressive approach from Black, preventing d4 by playing an early ...c4:
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Black missed a difficult equalising chance and a miscalculation led to an early defeat for the top Ukrainian GM.
Moscow Variation 3...Bd7, 6 Qe2, 7...g5 [B52]
Mamedov - Dominguez is an important encounter in the 7...g5 line:
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Dominguez endorses Vachier Lagrave's treatment and drew a game which looks like prep in its entirety.
Till next time, Sam
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