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Three Rossolimos, once again! Unfortunately, this month’s update presents more of what not to play for White - still good to know, though.
Our first variation against 3...d6 doesn’t promise White much, but may appeal to the more aggressive readers. White gives the bishop pair for the centre and achieves some initiative, which can quickly turn to Black’s king.
One of the nicer games come from Harry Grieve, who clinically dismantled his strong opponent in a rather unusual line after 3..e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Qc7.
Finally, we take a deep dive into a fashionable line, currently being played at the very highest level. Notable protagonists include Caruana, MVL, Praggnanandhaa, Keymer...

Download PGN of November ’25 Anti-Sicilian games

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Rossolimo Hybrid 3..d6: 5.Re1 a6 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.d4 [B51]

After 4.0-0 Bd7 5.Re1 a6 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.d4 cxd4:

White has two choices, and we’ll look at both. Harikrishna opted for 8.Nxd4, but didn’t achieve much after 8..Rc8 9.Nc3 e6= in Harikrishna, P - Elmi, S, though Black eventually crumbled in an even middlegame.

White captured with the queen instead in Alekseenko, K - Stefansson, V, leading to some very direct play after 8.Qxd4 Nf6 9.Bg5 e6 10.Nc3. Black spent most of the game being better, but ultimately fell to White’s attack.


Rossolimo 3..e6: 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Qc7 [B30]

A new line (to me!) I spotted this month continues 6.e5 f6 7.Bf4 Ne7 8.0-0 fxe5 9.Bxe5 Bg3 10.Nf5 11.Nh4:

Now, Black has a choice. Gavrilescu, D - Santos Latasa, J saw 11..Nxg3 12.fxg3 after which both players got chances.

Harry Grieve faced 11..Nxh4? in July this year, and crushed his opponent convincingly in Grieve, H - Iturrizaga Bonelli, E.


Rossolimo 3..e6: 4.0-0 Nge7 5.Re1 Nd4 [B30]

This line seems to gaining traction at the top level, and I can understand why. In all four games analysed in this section, Black seems to have an easier life.

Our games continued 6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.c3 a6 8.Bf1 Nc6:

White tried 9.a4!? in Vachier Lagrave, M - Praggnanandhaa, R and almost got punished immediately, before turning things around in a hopeless endgame and eventually winning a thrilling fight.

9.b4 is the main move here, though, and for good reason. However, even here White struggles to show anything convincing.

9...Bd6 was played in both Navara, D - Gelfand, B and Cheparinov, I - Caruana, F, where Black was better in both games. I think Cheparinov’s 12.h3 is the best chance at an advantage, but Black still seems relatively in control.

9...Be7 was another one of Gelfand’s attempts, though this ended up as the only convincing win for White in this variation. Black should be fine, but if Gelfand struggles, then it certainly isn’t straightforward. See Keymer, V - Gelfand, B.



Till next time, Ezra

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