Download PGN of May ’20 Anti-Sicilian games
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Grand Prix Attack 2.f4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.c3 [B21]
Carlsen, M - Ding, L saw this line, with Ding rejecting the 'known' equaliser 2...d5 in favour of 2...g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 Nc6 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0:
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Carlsen played a very high quality game, dealing effectively with Ding's exchange sacrifice.
c3-Sicilian 2...Nf6 ...d6 Mainline, 7.Bc4 Nb6 8.Bb5 dxe5 9.Nxe5 Bd7 10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.Nc3 e6 12.0-0 Be7 [B22]
In Nakamura, H - Ding, L, the players essayed this variation, which has an impeccable reputation for Black:
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After 13.Qg4 0-0, Nakamura played 14.Bh6?, which has been tried in 30 games but leaves White begging for a draw after Ding's obvious response, 14...Qxd4.
Anti-Sveshnikov 6.Nd2 Nf6 7.Nf1 Bg4 8.f3 Be6 [B30]
Nepomniachtchi, I - Carlsen, M saw 3...e5 4.Bc4 Be7 5.d3 d6 6.Nd2 Nf6 7.Nf1 Bg4 8.f3 Be6 9.Ne3 0-0 10.0-0 Nd7:
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A theoretically important and excellently played game remained balanced throughout.
Move-Order Tricks 4...Qc7 5.0-0 Nd4 [B30]
I always thought the variation with 3...Nf6 4.Bb5 Qc7 5.0-0 Nd4 is really dangerous for Black. Shevchenko, K - Reimanis, R saw the line with 6.Re1 a6 7.Bf1 d6, which is a reasonable way of handling the position:
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White played excellently and launched an attack typical of the line.
Rossolimo Variation 3...e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 [B30]
In Firouzja, A - Carlsen, M, the players discussed the position after 5...Qc7 6.Qe2 e5:
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A very interesting and well played game ended with the World Champion falling for a swindle (slightly too late to make it into Dave Smerdon's book!)
Rossolimo Variation 3...h5!? [B30]
This bombshell was detonated in Ding, L - Carlsen, M.
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None of Carlsen's opening choices, at any time control, are senseless. Here he had a fully playable position until move 15. Expect further tests!
Rossolimo Variation 3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 [B31]
Muzychuk, M - Harika, D saw 4.0-0 Bg7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 0-0 7.d4 d5 8.e5 Ne4 9.Nbd2:
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I don't think this is a great shot at an advantage, and Black had a pretty easy time in the game.
Rossolimo Variation 3...g6 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 [B31]
In Aronian, L - Wei, Y, Aronian went for the rare line 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2:
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Black was doing well in the opening, Aronian played well in the middlegame, and it was only at move 54 that the balance was sharply disturbed.
Till next time, Sam
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