Download PGN of June ’21 Anti-Sicilian games
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c3-Sicilian: 2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 e6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 b6 7.Nc3 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Qc7 9.Bd2 [B22]
In Paehtz, E - Dzagnidze, N, instead of the standard 9...Bb7, Black played 9…Be7 aiming for a quick trade with ...Ba6:
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White had excellent attacking chances and won a good game.
Carlsen Variation: 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qd2 g6 6.b3 Bh6 [B23]
This line is Gawain’s recommendation in his new repertoire book. In Popov, I - Timerkhanov, A Black essayed the dubious 6...Bh6 7.f4 e5?!:
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This line is more or less refuted, due to the continuation in the game.
Rossolimo Variation: 3...e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Qc7 6.Nbd2 e5 [B30]
In Xu, Y - Yu, Y, a line endorsed by Boris Gelfand at the 2020 Legends of Chess was essayed, 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Qc7 6.Nbd2 e5 7.0-0 Ne7:
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Black quickly seized the initiative and won a good game.
Rossolimo Variation: 3...e6 4.0-0 Nd4 [B30]
In Lobanov, S - Paravyan, D Black tried the sideline 4.0-0 Nd4?! (which is similar to, and can transpose to, 3...Nd4).
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He solved his opening problems but went wrong later, in particular by developing his knight to f6 instead of e7.
Rossolimo Variation: 3...e5 [B30]
This line, aiming for a Botvinnik pawn structure, is a serious option.
In Vitiugov, N - Dubov, D, after 4.0-0 Dubov avoided 4...Bd6 (which we’ve covered several times) in favour of 4...Nge7. After 5.Bc4 he played the very direct 5...d5!?:
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Black’s position looks loose but Dubov managed to equalise quite cleanly.
The rare 4.Nc3 led to a pleasant position for White in Zhao, J - Yu, Y, especially after the further moves 4...d6 5.0-0 Nf6 6.Re1 Be7 7.Nd5 0-0 8.Nxe7+ Nxe7 9.c3:
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Although passive, Black’s dark squared bishop is a useful defensive piece in Spanish structures, and White’s bishop pair gives a pleasant edge.
Rossolimo Variation: 3...g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.h3 e5 [B31]
In Abdumalik, Z - Muzychuk, M the players contested this old main line, with the game proceeding along established theory after 6.h3 e5 7.Nc3 Qe7 8.Be3 Nf6 9.Qd2 Nd7 10.0-0 Nf8 11.Bh6:
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Muzychuk used a promising plan based on a quick ...g5, and had no problems from the opening.
Zaitsev Variation: 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qe2 g6 6.Be2 [B53]
In Murzin, V - Fedoseev, V, Black essayed the unusual 6...Bg7 7.0-0 Nh6, with similar play to rare lines of the Accelerated Dragon:
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His position is very flexible and solid, despite the spatial disadvantage, and Fedoseev outplayed his young opponent convincingly.
Till next time, Sam
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