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This update includes a wide range of variations. From our familiar Moscow to the Rossolimo, and some Alapin along the way.
There are as many “dos” as “don’ts” in this article, where players went astray early on. Some were punished, and some got away lightly.

Download PGN of July ’25 Anti-Sicilian games

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Sicilian 2.b3 d6 3.Bb2 Nf6 [B20]

First up, a young prodigy from Turkey stuns a blitz specialist. White achieved brilliant play after an unconventional opening in Erdogmus, Y - Moussard, J, which continued 4.Bb5+ Nc6 5.d3 a6?!:











Black’s last move got ruthlessly punished. An impressive display from the youngest ever player to reach 2600.



Alapin 2..Nf6: 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.d4 [B22]

The next section highlights a bad variation for White, which I would suggest to simply avoid. After 5..cxd4 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb3 d5, White is faced with a choice:











The main line continues 8.exd6, with complex play and heavy theory. It is the main line for good reason.

8.cxd4, attempted in both Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son - Mekhitarian, K and Kotsur, P - Radjabov, T, are clear demonstrations that this line should be avoided for White. Black reaches equality with ease, and develops comfortable play.



Rossolimo: 3..e6 4.0-0 Nge7 5.Re1 [B30]

After 4.0-0 Nge7 5.Re1, Black tried the less common 5..h6!? in Gukesh, D - Caruana, F. Black manages to achieve equality from the opening, though Fabi went wrong and eventually lost.


Rossolimo: 3..e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 [B30]

Meanwhile, after 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Qc7 6.Qe2 e5:











White went for a dubious plan with 7.Nd2 d6 8.0-0?! Ne7 9.f4. An objectively bad opening, which got logically punished in Giri, A - Caruana, F. However, I think there is some value in 8.f4!?, which deserves attention.



Moscow: 3..Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 [B51]

Another day, another Moscow - though this line was new to me.











The main line continues 5..a6 6.Bxd7 Bxd7, with a very large number of games. However, 6..Qxd7 is a fashionable alternative! I quite like this move, but Black clearly has to be careful.

In Aronian, L - Niemann, H, Black was lost after only 10 moves(!), though White did not spot the win. The main mistake was that Black did not go for a setup with ..e5, which seems necessary in this line.

Black was also lost after a slightly more convincing opening in Sadvakasov, D - Saric, I, following 7.Nc3 e5 8.Qd3 Qc6 (a key move in this line).


Moscow: 3..Bd7 4.c4 [B52]

A recent blitz game, Abdusattorov, N - Giri, A, highlights another option within the well-known 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 line.











6.Bxd7 is not very common, but forces Black to make a decision early on. The game continued 6..Qxd7 7.d4 xcd4 8.Qxd4, a theme seen in prior updates.


Till next time, Ezra

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