Download PGN of March ’26 Anti-Sicilian games
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Rossolimo Sicilian 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 [B23]
I’ve often found this line annoying to face as Black, and I’d recommend it as part of a White repertoire:
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It would be rude not to start with Magnus, whose game continued 4.a4 a6 5.Bd3 e6 6.Nf3 Nc6!?. This unusual opening quickly went Black’s way in Dardha, D - Carlsen, M.
White chose 4.Bc4 in Davtyan, A - Ponomariov, R, which continued 4..e6 5.Nge2 Nf6 6.0-0 a6. I quite liked White’s approach, who went on to win.
Rossolimo 3..e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Qc7 [B30]
We’ve analysed this line a few times - I do find it interesting! It’s very hard to understand and play for both sides.
I noticed a novelty from Caruana, which is always worth analysing. Hardaway, B - Caruana, F continued 6.e5 f6 7.Bf4 Ne7 8.0-0 h5?! (we’ve previously analysed 8..fxe5).
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The novelty doesn’t look very sound, but White failed to punish it and eventually lost.
In the other game, Nepo shed light on a cute opening trap that I’d never seen before (or forgotten, also quite likely!): 6.Nbd2 e5 7.Nc4?! d5!:
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White cannot capture on e5 since the knight is trapped after 8.Nxe5? f6. Black won a convincing game in Gabrielian, A - Nepomniachtchi, I.
Anti ...e6 Sicilian 3.Be2!? [B40]
This Jobava-style move appeared in a few recent games and the more I analyse it, the more I like it. A nice weapon against a common Sicilian.
Via different orders, all our games converged at the position arising after 3..Nc6 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 d5 6.exd5:
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Our first game features a regular Anti-Sicilian player, 6..Nxd5 7.Bb5 Nxc3:
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8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.bxc3!? was seen in Lagarde, M - Maze, S where White missed an early win but eventually converted anyway.
White went for 8.dxc3 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Bd7 10.Ng5!, likely the best line:
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in Bodnaruk, A - Karimova, G which White won convincingly after a balanced opening.
An all-British clash went White’s way after 6..exd5 7.d4 Be6 8.Bg5. Though the position might appear balanced, it’s not easy for Black to play and he quickly collapsed in Adams, M - Royal, S.
Moscow 3..Nd7: 4.0-0 a6 5.Bxd7 [B51]
It’s not an Anti-Sicilian update without a Moscow Variation... We’ll look into 5..Bxd7 6.c3 Nf6 7.Re1 Bg4!?:
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White obtained a significant advantage after 8.h3 Bh5 9.d4 e6 10.d5 e5?! which he ultimately converted in Navara, D - Maghsoodloo, P.
Till next time, Ezra
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