Download PGN of November ’18 Anti-Sicilian games
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Rossolimo 3...g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 [B31]
Caruana, F - Carlsen, M Game 1, proceeded 6.h3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Nd7 8.Be3 e5 9.0-0 b6, when Caruana opened the f-file with 10.Nh2 Nf8 11.f4 exf4 12.Rxf4 Be6 13.Rf2 h6:
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As I discuss in the notes, Svidler, Sadler and AlphaZero suggest 14.a4, while Caruana played 14.Qd2, and was then soundly outplayed before saving a very difficult position.
Caruana, F - Carlsen, M Game 3, featured 6.0-0 Qc7, a rare move which is likely to explode in popularity, although Caruana got a great position from the opening.
Rossolimo 3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 e5 [B31]
Caruana, F - Carlsen, M Game 5, featured 6.b4, which was a respectable surprise weapon:
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but was soundly neutralised by Carlsen starting 6...Nxb4 7.Bb2 a6 8.a3 axb5 9.axb4 Rxa1 10.Bxa1 d6!.
Rossolimo: 3...g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.0-0 Bg7 6.Re1 Nh6 7.c3 0-0 8.h3 f5 9.e5 Nf7, Gelfand's 11...Ba6 [B31]
In Tari, A - Vidit, S we see a failure of preparation, since after 10.d3 d6 11.Bf4 Ba6 12.e6 Ne5:
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Tari went for the unpromising 13.Bxe5 (13.Nxe5 is more critical) and rapidly got into an inferior position, not improving on Nepo - Gelfand which we looked at previously.
Moscow Variation 3...Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 [B51]
A sharp piece sacrifice 6.c3 b5 7.a4 Bb7 8.axb5 axb5 9.Rxa8 Qxa8 10.Bxb5 Bxe4 11.d4!? has been developed by English players, having been introduced by Gawain in the Olympiad and tested in McShane, L - Svidler, P:
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Luke (presumably) forgot his analysis and, in a very sharp and forced position, ended up with insufficient compensation.
Moscow Variation 3...Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 [B51]
Naiditsch, A - Wojtaszek, R transposed into this line via 4.0-0 a6 5.Bxd7+ Bxd7 6.d4 cxd4 7.Qxd4:
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Black played 7...Qc7? which I haven’t been able to salvage and which resulted in an impressive opening rout.
In Xiong, J - MVL, after 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.Qd3 Rc8 9.0-0 Qc7 10.Rd1 Be6 11.a4 MVL introduced 11...Nf6!?:
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not fearing Bg5, and reached a good position.
Moscow Variation 3...Nd7 4.a4 [B51]
Blomqvist, E - Svidler, P is a model demonstration of the important plan 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 b6:
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which has become increasingly popular recently.
Till next time, Sam
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