Download PGN of February ’22 Anti-Sicilian games
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c3-Sicilian: 2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 e6 5.c4 [B22]
In Petrosian, T - Sargsyan, S White tried the very rare 5.c4:
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This is an attempt at gaining an interesting game, not an opening advantage.
Grand Prix Attack: 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.0-0 e6, Grischuk’s 7.d4!? [B23]
In Hauge, L - Gretarsson, H, White essayed Grischuk’s 7.d4!?:
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After 7...cxd4 8.Nb5 Nge7 9.Bb3 0-0 10.Nbxd4 a rich type of Open Sicilian position arises where Black has a full share of the chances.
Rossolimo: 3...e6 4.0-0 Nge7 5.Re1 Ng6 6.c3 d5 [B30]
This line has become topical since it was tested between Carlsen and Firouzja in Norway Chess. After 7.exd5 Qxd5 8.d4 cxd4 9.c4 Qd6 10.Nxd7 Bd7 White tried the unambitious 11.Bxc6:
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in Sargsyan, S - Mikaelyan, A and had little from the opening.
Rossolimo Variation: 3...Nf6 4.Nc3 g6 5.e5 Ng4 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.h3 Nh6 [B30]
Although Black has by no means solved his problems after the critical 8.g4, in Mishra, A - Stermavicius, T White played the more conservative 8.Ne4:
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and was on course to win a model game until things disintegrated in time trouble.
Moscow Variation: 3...Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.c3 e6 7.Re1 b5 8.Bc2 Bb7 9.d4 [B51]
Lots of battles in this topical variation this month.
In Muzychuk, M - Cheng, B, in the big main line after 4.0-0 a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.c3 e6 7.Re1 b5 8.Bc2 Bb7 9.d4 Be7, White tried 10.Bg5:
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Black was very comfortable from the opening.
Moscow Variation 3...Nd7 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 e6 [B51]
After 4.Ba4 Ngf6 5.0-0 e6, the pawn sacrifice 6.c4 is well-met by 6...Nxe4!:
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Drygalov, S - Makarian, R continued spectacularly with 7.Re1 Nef6 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Be7 10.Rxe6, but Black was never worse and probably should have continued at the end after finding a string of accurate defensive moves.
Moscow Variation 3...Nd7 4.a4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.a5 Bg7 7.0-0 a6 8.Be2 0-0 [B51]
Vazquez, G - Mishra, A featured 4.a4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.a5 Bg7 7.0-0 a6 8.Be2 0-0 9.d3 b5:
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which we’ve seen before. It’s hard to imagine Black being worse in this line, and the comfortably held the balance.
Moscow Variation: 3...Nd7 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.0-0 g6 9.d4 [B51]
After 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.0-0 g6 9.d4 Bg7 White essayed the aggressive 10.e5 in Dragun, K - Swiercz, D.
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Swiercz defended well and convincingly solved his opening problems.
Till next time, Sam
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