Download PGN of September '04 Anti-Sicilian games
Whats Hot?
The Grand Prix Attack [B23]
The Grand Prix Attack comes under scrutiny in three games starting with Gallego Martinez-Campos Moreno, where White plays the old line of 5 Bc4 and 6 f5:
             |
This was big in the 1980s but the test of time has not been kind to the line and Black wins.
An improved version is seen in Lau - Kilgus where Black plays an early ...d6 and suddenly White's attack with Bc4 has more power.
Lutton - Cooper is an example of the modern approach in the Grand Prix with 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 f4 g6 4 Nf3 Bg7 and now 5 Bb5. This game concentrates on 5...Nd4, when White replies 6 Bd3:
|
|
Star game of the month
The star game of the month is Fayard - Russo where after 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 e5 Black now plays 4...Ng4
|
|
leading to relatively new territory after just a handful of moves.
Opening Survey
The Closed Sicilian [B31]
1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 g6 3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 Nc6 5 d3 d6 6 f4 e5 7 Nh3 Nge7 8 0-0 0-0 9 f5 This line has been known to be good for White for some time but times have changed!
|
|
It might be time to cross out some sections in your old books after looking at the game Kislinsky - Yarmysty. Of course, it is analysed in depth and the important suggestion of the Dutch player De Lange demonstrates there is life in this variation for Black.
The c3 Sicilian [B22]
1 e4 c5 2 c3 d5 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 d4 Nc6 and now 5 dxc5:
|
|
In the game Stolz - Valet, Black plays the standard move 5...Qxd1+ and contests an ending where his active pieces are supposed to make up for the pawn deficit.
Slapikas - Carlsen sees the young prodigy defending the position with black pieces with the line 6 Kxd1 Bf5. He fails to put up much resistance in the opening but then fights like a tiger to secure a fortunate draw.
Schmittdiel - Bezler sees another bishop move by Black with 6...Bg4+ to facilitate queenside castling. Black does well but is always under pressure to create decent counterplay to make up for the material deficit.
I welcome e-mails and games from subscribers, and you can always write on the Anti-Sicilians Forum.
Gary