- Moscow Variation
- Zaitsev Variation
- King's Indian Attack
- 3 c3 Variation
- Anti-Sveshnikov Variation
- Rossolimo Variation
- 2 c3 Variation
Download PGN of August ’16 Anti-Sicilian games
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Moscow Variation 3...Nd7 4.0-0 Ngf6 5.Re1 a6 6.Bd3 [B51]
In Areshchenko - Dastan, Black opted for a rather passive setup based on fianchettoing his dark-squared bishop and playing ...e5:
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White has a choice of good options here, including by pushing with d5, but Areshchenko makes a good case for the simple exchange on e5 when Black has some weaknesses which are tough to cover.
Moscow Hybrid 7.Bc4 Bg4 8.d4 Bxf3 [B51]
Jumbayev - Dastan shows another strong GM essaying the fresh 7.Bc4!?, which we have covered in some detail in recent updates. Black (having varied from 3...Nd7, which he tried against Areshchenko a week earlier in the same tournament) went for a logical defence, compromising White's structure by taking on f3 and playing ...e6:
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White gained an advantage with energetic play, but Black had a much better option at move 11.
- Moscow Variation
- Zaitsev Variation
- King's Indian Attack
- 3 c3 Variation
- Anti-Sveshnikov Variation
- Rossolimo Variation
- 2 c3 Variation
Zaitsev Variation 4.Qxd4 e6 and ...Nge7 [B53]
In Zviaginsev - Gordievsky, via a slightly less usual move order, Black opted for a setup with pawns on e6 and d6, and a knight on e7:
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Zviaginsev, who always obtains fresh opening positions, headed for an endgame which he won with energetic play.
- Moscow Variation
- Zaitsev Variation
- King's Indian Attack
- 3 c3 Variation
- Anti-Sveshnikov Variation
- Rossolimo Variation
- 2 c3 Variation
King's Indian Attack 4.Qe2 [C00]
In Stankovic - Abramovic we look at a straightforward way for Black to meet this popular system, starting with 8...Ne8!?:
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Black gets counterplay down the b-file and against the white pawns on b2 and c4.
- Moscow Variation
- Zaitsev Variation
- King's Indian Attack
- 3 c3 Variation
- Anti-Sveshnikov Variation
- Rossolimo Variation
- 2 c3 Variation
3 c3 Variation 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Bd3 [B40]
In Bauer - Drabke, we look at a pet line of the strong French GM Christian Bauer, with 4.Bd3:
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The game is a good advertisement for this line, since White wins with a sparkling attack.
- Moscow Variation
- Zaitsev Variation
- King's Indian Attack
- 3 c3 Variation
- Anti-Sveshnikov Variation
- Rossolimo Variation
- 2 c3 Variation
Anti-Sveshnikov 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 [B30]
Popov - Cherniaev features the same line as in MVL - Komarov last month, with White varying on move 13 with 13.a3:
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This gives some interesting options on the queenside and seems to lead to a more comfortable position for White, though Black is very solid.
- Moscow Variation
- Zaitsev Variation
- King's Indian Attack
- 3 c3 Variation
- Anti-Sveshnikov Variation
- Rossolimo Variation
- 2 c3 Variation
Rossolimo Variation with ...e6 and ...Nd4 [B30]
Zviaginsev - Timofeev features an important position in this line, arising after 8.Bd3:
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This has been tested in several GM encounters. Zviaginsev played the opening energetically and emerged with an extra pawn, which he converted with characteristically good technique.
- Moscow Variation
- Zaitsev Variation
- King's Indian Attack
- 3 c3 Variation
- Anti-Sveshnikov Variation
- Rossolimo Variation
- 2 c3 Variation
2 c3 Variation 2...d5 [B22]
Sochacki - Moiseenko shows a less known idea for Black in an important variation, thematically re-routing the knight to d5 to block White's IQP with 13...Nb4:
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White reacted very poorly and was clearly worse within a few moves.
- Moscow Variation
- Zaitsev Variation
- King's Indian Attack
- 3 c3 Variation
- Anti-Sveshnikov Variation
- Rossolimo Variation
- 2 c3 Variation
See you next time, Sam
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