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?!:
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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:
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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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