Download PGN of July ’17 Anti-Sicilian games
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c3-Sicilian: 2...d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 [B22]
After 6.Be2 Nc6 7.0-0 cxd4, Solak, D - Zhigalko, S featured the less popular recapture 8.Nxd4:
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This leads to a position where White can press with little risk, though Black doesn’t have much to fear after decent defence.
Rossolimo: 3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Bxc6 dxc6 [B31]
Negi, P - Frhat, A continued 6.d3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 (7...Bg4!?) 8.a4 a5 9.h3 b6:
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and Black adopted a promising idea in the middlegame, meeting Bh6 with ...f6 and ...g5.
2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.h3 [B50]
Bruzon, L - Vasquez, R shows the plans for White in the standard position after 4...g6 5.Bd3 Bg7 6.Bc2 Nc6 7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 d5 9.e5 Ne4:
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Black has decent counterchances on the queenside with accurate play, but in the game he fell victim to a crisp kingside attack.
Moscow Variation: 3...Nd7 4.0-0 Nf6 5.Re1 a6 6.Bf1 [B51]
Kovalev, V - Adhiban B features the unusual 6...b6:
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Adhiban gets a Hedgehog position and executes a standard attacking manoeuvre with ...Be7-d8-c7, ultimately getting the upper hand in the complications.
Moscow Variation: 3...Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.Re1 e6 [B51]
We have covered this variation before, and, after 7.c3 b5 8.Bc2 c4 9.d4 cxd3 10.Qxd3 Bb7 11.a4 Nc5 12.Qe2 bxa4, Kovalev, V - Yilmaz, M features 13.Nbd2:
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Black had several equalising opportunities but lost a messy game.
Moscow Variation: 3...Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bd3 b5 6.Re1 Bb7 [B51]
This variation was the subject of a mini-match between MVL and Ian Nepomniatichi in Leuven. MVL essayed 7.a4 in the rapid game, Vachier Lagrave, M - Nepomniatichi, I:
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And 7.c4 in blitz, winning both games, see Vachier Lagrave, M - Nepomniatichi, I.
Zaitsev Variation 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 [B53]
Kramnik, V - Nakamura, H was a top level outing of the sharp 6.e5:
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White tends to gain the bishop pair but Black can keep level chances with energetic play.
Till next time, Sam
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