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Whats Hot?

The Closed Sicilian [B23]

This month we look at 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 e6 3 g3 d5 4 exd5 exd5 5 Bg2 Nf6 and now 6 d3:

This line for Black has a reputation for offering drawing chances in long games and this view is strengthened by the game Deutsch - Golod.

Another course of action is tried by White in the example Drabke - Flumbort which leads to a hard fought encounter and is worth further investigation.

Chow - Xie seems to be heading towards a draw before White spots a neat combination to ensure victory.

Star game of the month

The star game is Pavasovic - Pikula, which examines an important line in the C3 Sicilian upon 1 e4 c5 2 c3 d5 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 d4 g6 5 Nf3 Bg7 6 Na3 cxd4 and now 7 Bc4:

Black plays passively and is soon routed due to a tactical trick.

Opening Survey

The Grand Prix Attack [B21]

1 e4 c5 2 f4 d5 and now 3 Nc3 when play normally continues 3...dxe4 4 Nxe4 e6:

The line featuring 2 f4 was the height of fashion in the 1980s until it became clear that 2...d5 posed White a number of problems to wrestle an advantage out of the opening.

A top grandmaster is playing White in the game Sulskis - Goletiani where the unusual 6 Bb5+ is tested and proves to be a success.

A couple of world class players battle it out in Polgar - Kramnik, Cap D'Agde 2003 where a slightly different move-order soon sees a familiar position on the board after 6 moves. Black emerges on top but a draw is the final result.

A classic game is Hebden - Rodriguez Vargas, which reveals the ideas behind the whole 3 Nc3 strategy and why it continues to be occasionally played.

Balaji - Chowdhury is a recent example of the role of a double fianchetto as part of White's strategy.

I welcome e-mails and games from subscribers, and you can always write on the Anti-Sicilians Forum.

Gary