Download PGN of September ’19 Anti-Sicilian games
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Hybrid Variation 4.0-0 Bd7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 a6 7.Bf1 Bg4 [B51]
Svidler, P - Albornoz Cabrera, C was an outstanding effort with the enterprising 8.d4!?:
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Black went for the forcing 8...Bxf3 9.gxf3 cxd4 10.cxd4 d5, apparently well-prepared for 11.Nc3, but Svidler essayed 11.e5 Nh5 12.e6 and won a miniature.
Rossolimo Variation 3...Nf6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 [B30]
The match between Dominguez and Abasov featured several Rossolimo battles. In the tiebreak Dominguez Perez, L - Abasov, N, Abasov repeated the experimental 5.d3 g6 6.h3 Nh5?! which worked well for him in the first round:
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Dominguez put on a masterclass until time trouble blunders spoiled the game, though the result was justified.
Rossolimo, Gelfand Variation 3...g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.0-0 Bg7 6.Re1 Nh6 7.c3 0-0 8.d4 [B31]
Levon Aronian tested the Rossolimo a couple of times in his match against Le Quang Liem. In the tiebreak Aronian, L - Le, Q he went for this line (which top players seem to be trending towards, since Black has been doing well after the old 8.h3) and, after 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 f6:
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played 11.exf6. The game never strayed far from equality and Black has little to fear in this line.
Rossolimo Variation 3...g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Qxd4 f6 [B31]
In Vachier-Lagrave, M - Radjabov, T, the Frenchman varied from an earlier game against Magnus Carlsen by essaying 7.Qa4:
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Radjabov was never worse in the arising Maroczy structure.
Rossolimo 3...g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.h3 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nd7 8.Be3 e5 9.Qd2 h6 [B31]
In Dominguez Perez, L - Abasov, N Black showed an important new concept after 10.0-0 b6 11.Nh2, namely 11...Nf6!?:
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The idea was demonstrated after 12.a3 Be6 13.b4 Nd5!?, which worked well in the game and could have more general applications in these structures.
Rossolimo Variation 3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 0-0 7.h3 Qb6 [B31]
8.a4 was the prelude to a grand battle between two exciting players in Firouzja, A - Dubov, D.
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Dubov had various difficult opportunities to equalise, but ultimately succumbed to relentless pressure.
Zaitsev Variation 4...Nf6 [B53]
There were a couple of interesting games in this line, which is often a straightforward attempt to obtain a Maroczy structure.
In Yu, Y - Adhiban, B, after 5.Bb5+ Bd7 6.c4 a6 7.Bxd7+, Black played the enterprising 7...Nfxd7!?:
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A well played game ended in a draw.
In Escobar Forero, A - Dominguez Perez, L, after 5.Be2 Nc6 6.Qe3 g6 7.0-0 Bg7 8.h3 0-0 9.Rd1 Be6:
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White avoided the main move 10.Nc3 in favour of a Maroczy with 10.c4. White almost won a wonderful attacking game against very risky play, but got confused in the complications.
Till next time, Sam
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