Download PGN of July '08 Anti-Sicilian games
2 c3 Sicilian [B22]
In Game One Jack Rudd shows an effective way for Black against 4 g3:
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Game Two features Venezualan prodigy Felix Ynojesa who makes a mess of IM Buckley, but of course Black has improvements, the most obvious being 15...Qf6!:
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This is White's only win in the update...
Grand Prix Attack/Closed Sicilian [B23 & B26]
In Game Three Rendle essays 5 a3!? against Gordon:
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This seems neither one system nor another to me. I am at a loss to see how White would have answered 6...Nxb4 as the game goes, but Gordon did not do it and won convincingly anyway!
In Game Four GM Gormally gives a flawless performance in a Closed Sicilian against WGM Susan Lalic. I particularly like his 10...Bg4:
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This seems like an effortless equalizer.
O'Kelly Variation [B28]
In Game Five Conquest baffles Greet in the opening with the O'Kelly and shunts the game into some sort of French. White misses 16...Nc4! altogether:
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After that Black's technique does the rest.
Bb5 Variations [B30]
Game Six is a wild slugfest between Horner and Bogdan Lalic and after many complications Black came out on top. One glance at the position after 15 Bf4 tells the story:
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Look out for some great guest notes from Bogdan here.
2 Nf3 various [B40 & B50]
In Game Seven Nigel Davies wins one of the best game prizes for his cool defence against Yang-Fan Zhao, another of those promising, dangerous young players. White seems to have the makings of a vicious attack after 17 Qg4:
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but Black keeps control.
Finally Game Eight features Gormally again, cruising to victory against the speedy Jack Rudd's pet line with 4 e5:
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Guest notes by Rudd complete the Update.
I am travelling this August, in Liverpool now, then off to Hamburg and then the USA. Wherever you are in the world I hope you have a happy and productive month. Andrew
Please post you queries on the Anti-Sicilians Forum, or subscribers can write to me at AMartin@ChessPublishing.com if you have any questions or queries.