To download the May '04 Anti-Sicilian games directly in PGN form, click here:

Whats Hot?

The Rossolimo Variation with 3...Qb6.[B30]

The 3 Bb5 Sicilian is certainly very popular so a shortcut line against it for Black is to play 3...Qb6 so that Black will not be burdened with doubled pawns if White captures the knight on c6:

The Chinese grandmasters battling for victory in Zhang Zhong-Bu Xianzhi demonstrate some of the possibilities for both sides but in this case it is Black who comes out on top.

A brilliancy is the only description of Galdunts - Katz where White uses his own brand of power chess to storm through on the kingside and hunt down the black king.

Perez - Gonzalez is an example of White sticking to his usual policy of exchanging the knight on c6 and with a bit of luck sets about ruining Black's pawn structure.

Star game of the month

The star game is Rodi - Marques which starts 1 e4 c5 Nc3 a6:

White proceeds to fianchetto on the kingside while Black indulges in a rapid queenside pawn expansion. It is White whose attack triumphs with some style.

Opening Survey

The C3 Sicilian [B22]

2...d5 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 Bg4 and now 6 Qa4+:

The game Henris - Popovic is a stern test of White's pet line and Black equalises with 6...Bd7 only after some accurate defending.

Looshnikov - Kobalija shows White trying another course of action by entering a fairly level ending.

This idea is repeated in Cherniav - Buss where White makes the classic mistake of trying to win a drawn position and ends-up being on the receiving end of a clever tactic.

Just to restore some balance Slapkis - Rytshagov sees the inferior reply 6...Nbd7 and White soon creates a decent initiative in a line that some books misguidedly think is good for Black.

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

Gary