Download PGN of December ’18 Anti-Sicilian games
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c3-Sicilian: 2...Nf6 Mainline 6...d6 [B22]
The line with 7.Bc4 Nb6 8.Bb5 is viewed as very safe for White after Black takes on d5. Instead 8...Bd7!? keeps more tension in the position:
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and was well advertised in Potkin, V - Nepomniachtchi, I.
c3-Sicilian 2...Nf6 with 5...e6 and 6....b6 [B22]
I’ve always liked this line for White and Korneev, O - Baghdasaryan, V demonstrates his chances after the direct 7.Bc4 Bb7 8.0-0 Be7 9.Bxd5:
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c3-Sicilian 2...d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Na3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Qe4+ 8.Be3 0-0 9.0-0 [B22]
Pavasovic, D - Velickovic, Z is a model effort from White after 9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Ng4 11.Bg5 Qe5 12.Nf3 Qc7?!:
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Instead, 12...Qc5 is better.
Rossolimo: 3...g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.h3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Nd7 8.Be3 e5 9.Qd2 h6 [B31]
Zhao Jun - Cheparinov, I is a good demonstration of White’s attacking chances in this line, where Black keeps his king in the centre in order to maintain the bishop pair:
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After 10.0-0 Qe7 11.Nh2 Nf8 12.f4 exf4 13.Bxf4 Ne6 14.Bg3 Nd4 15.Rae1 White was starting to build a typical initiative, leading to a miniature against a very strong and well-prepared opponent.
Rossolimo 3...g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.h3 Nf6 [B31]
We’ve covered a couple of early deviations this month.
In Saric, I - Harff, M Black essayed 7.Nc3 Qc7, preparing ...e5:
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In Baklan, V - Ponomariov, R White played the unusual 7.Bd2, but Ponomariov neutralised it completely with thematic play.
Moscow Variation 3...Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.Re1 e6 [B51]
A couple of wins by Bassem Amin to close this month. In Amin, B - Van Wely, L, after 8.Bc2 c4 9.a4 Bb7 10.d4 cxd3 11.Qxd3 Nc5 12.Qe2 bxa4, Amin essayed the dangerous 13.e5:
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and won a good game.
Moscow Variation 3...Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Nxd7 [B52]
In Amin, B - Kozul, Z after 5.0-0 Ngf6 6.Qe2 e6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4:
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the players soon contested a typical Hedgehog structure. Amin got nothing from the opening but won after a series of time trouble errors from Kozul.
Wishing all Chess Pub readers a happy 2019! Sam
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