Download PGN of April ’22 Anti-Sicilian games
>> Previous Update >>
Closed Sicilian 2...e6 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.d4 [B23]
In Can, E - Volokitin, A, after 5...cxd4 6.Qxd4 Nf6 7.Bg5 Nc6! Black was on his way to a very acceptable opening position.
             |
However, a very poor decision a few moves later led to a miniature.
Rossolimo Variation: 3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 0-0 7.d4 d5 8.e5 Ne4 9.Be3 [B31]
The line with 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 0-0 7.d4 d5 8.e5 Ne4 9.Be3 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qb6 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12. Qc1 is quite topical at the moment, driven by Black's good results after 4.Bxc6.
|
|
We look at two model games for White after 12...Rb8 13.b3, first Navara, D - Valsecchi, A with 13...Bf5?!
And also Tari, A - Meskovs, N with 13...Qa5!:
|
|
Stopping the knight from developing to c3.
Rossolimo Variation: 3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.d3 Nf6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Re1 [B31]
In Carlsen, M - Praggnanandhaa, R, the World Champion went for an offbeat position with 5.d3 Nf6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Re1 0-0 8.h3:
|
|
Pragg was doing okay from the opening but went on to lose a challenging queen endgame.
Hybrid Variation: 4.0-0 Bd7 5.Re1 a6 6.Bf1 Nf6 7.c3 [B51]
This line gives Black a few decent options, but 7...e6?! doesn't seem to be one of them:
|
|
In Gretarsson, H - Stefansson, V, after 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 d5, instead of Wesley So's recommended 10.e5 White played 10.exd5. There were a couple of equalising options but White won a miniature after some inaccuracies.
Moscow Variation: 3...Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4!? Nf6 [B51]
This fresh line continues to give rise to interesting games. In Bjerre, J - Haubro, M, after 6.Bd3 Black went for an ambitious Najdorf treatment with 6...e5!? 7.Nb3 d5:
|
|
Despite the result of the game, the line seems very playable for Black.
In Grischuk, A - Shankland, S, Shankland showed excellent preparation to neutralise 6.c4 g6 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bxd7 Bxd7 10.Qd3:
|
|
I think he basically closed the line.
Zaitsev Variation 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qe3 g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.0-0 Nf6 8.h3 0-0 9.Rd1 [B53]
This line should probably be named after Harikrishna, but in Harikrishna, P - Maghsoodloo, P he suffered a painful reversal from a very promising position after 9...Nd7 10.Nc3 h6?!:
|
|
An attempt to surprise Hari in a position where he's already had several games.
Till next time, Sam
>> Previous Update >>
Please post you queries on the Anti-Sicilians Forum, or subscribers can write to me at support@ChessPublishing.com if you have any questions or queries.