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I hope you play the Moscow... If you don’t, then this month’s article might convince you. It’s an important opening, and is often chosen by players who, understandably, want to avoid the open Sicilians. I’ve dedicated this entire update to 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7. We’ll explore opportunities for both colours, including some less common alternatives such as 4.0-0 a6 5.Be2, or 5.Bxd7 Bxd7 6.c3 and 6.Re1, alongside some new ideas in the more common 4.Ba4
With so many options after 3...Nd7, it’s worth discovering a few different setups!

Download PGN of February ’25 Anti-Sicilian games

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Moscow Variation: 3...Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Be2 [B51]

Our first Moscow variation will include the lesser-spotted 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Be2!?. A strange looking move, with an unusual plan. Both games continued 5...Ngf6 6.d3 e6 7.a4 b6 8.Nfd2:

A complex game eventually went White’s way after 8...Bb7 9.f4 in Ponomariov, R -Mendonca, L.

In Yu, Y - Zemlyanskii, I, Black went wrong rather quickly with 8...d5?!, giving White a comfortable position after 9.f4 Bb7 10.Bf3.


Moscow Variation: 3...Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bxd7 Bxd7 6.c3 or 6.Re1 [B51]

While 6.d4 is often preferred, I quite like White’s chances in the 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bxd7 Bxd7 6.c3 line:

I’ve chosen to cover four games in this section, as I think it’s an interesting line to know (for both sides!). Black can choose between two main setups: placing the knight on f6 or on e7. After seeing Black swiftly punished in both Tari, A - Stearman, J and Ivic, V - Malek, J, I would now recommend following in the Cuban-American’s footsteps by placing the knight on e7, as demonstrated in Hansen, E - Dominguez Perez, L.

While using a slightly different move order with 6.Re1, the game Lagarde, M - Vokhidov, S shows a possible transposition, and provides an alternative approach for White against this Ne7 setup. After GM Lagarde missed some chances in the opening, Black ultimately came out on top after a dynamic fight.


Moscow Variation: 3...Nd7 4.Ba4 [B51]

We will explore two sidelines after 4.Ba4 Ngf6 5.0-0 e6:

where the main line continues 6.Re1. 6.c4 is another option, but Black will show that the e4-pawn is now ripe for the taking in Hansen, E - Saric, I.

White doesn’t have to gambit the e4-pawn, of course, and can opt for the more subtle 6.d3, illustrated in the masterclass Aronian, L - Maghsoodloo, P. I like the 4.Ba4 line, which can lead to many different types of positions.



Till next time, Ezra

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