Download PGN of September ’24 Anti-Sicilian games
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The Morra Gambit: 3...dxc3 4 Nxc3 Nc6 5 Nf3 e6 [B21]
After 1 e4 c5 2 d4 cxd4 3 c3 dxc3 4 Nxc3 a popular and theoretically-approved defence is 4...Nc6 5 Nf3 e6. Here 6 Bf4!? is a recent trend:
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Nakamura has deployed it a few times, but I’m just not totally convinced, in part due to 6...Bb4!, as we’ll see in Nakamura, H - Mamedov, E.
White’s main move has traditionally been 6 Bc4 when 6...a6 7 0-0 Nge7 reaches another important tabiya:
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Here 8 Bg5 has been well covered before on ChessPub, 8 h4!? is a typical modern engine preference, and 8 Bf4?! is again not especially convincing, due to 8...Ng6 9 Bg3 Be7, as we’ll see in Rakhmangulova, A - Stremavicius, T.
The Morra Gambit: 3...dxc3 4 Nxc3 Nc6 5 Nf3 d6 6 Bc4 a6 [B21]
The other good line for Black against 1 e4 c5 2 d4 cxd4 3 c3 is 3...dxc3 4 Nxc3 Nc6 5 Nf3 d6 6 Bc4 a6, Joe Gallagher’s old suggestion and a move also recommended of late in both King’s Anti-Sicilians for Black and the upcoming Chessable course, The Killer Löwenthal Sicilian. The modern main line runs 7 0-0 Nf6 8 Bf4:
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Black has a few options here, of which 8...Bg4 is the most thematic and easiest. With accurate play White can regain the pawn, but Black also cannot complain, as we’ll see in Weishaeutel, M - Horak, M.
Returning to the position after 1 e4 c5 2 d4 cxd4 3 c3 dxc3 4 Nxc3 Nc6 5 Nf3 d6 6 Bc4 a6, and here 7 e5?! is a tricky recent try:
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Black should avoid 7...dxe5?! 8 Qxd8+ Nxd8? 9 Nd5!, but 7...e6! is a simple solution, one which quickly led to a clear advantage in Ricaurte Lopez, J - Womacka, M.
The Morra Gambit: 3...dxc3 4 Nxc3 Nc6 5 Nf3 d6 6 Bc4 e6 [B21]
It’s not as popular for Black as the two variations covered above, but the Classical Main Line, 1 e4 c5 2 d4 cxd4 3 c3 dxc3 4 Nxc3 e6 5 Nf3 Nc6 6 Bc4 d6, is also in decent health. A key position arises after 7 0-0 Nf6 8 Qe2 Be7 9 Rd1 e5!:
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Here 10 Bb5!? angles to regain the pawn and may well be White’s best move, if also one not especially challenging for Black, as we’ll see in Weishaeutel, M - Aronian, L.
The Semi-Morra: 3 Nf3 [B21]
A number of players online like tricky move orders, one being 1 e4 c5 2 d4, hoping that Black will have pre-moved and so won’t go 2...cxd4. If Black does though play correctly, White eschews 3 c3 for 3 Nf3, aiming for an Open Sicilian after all.
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Black is best advised to go 3...Nc6, 3...d6 or 3...e6 and play their favourite type of Sicilian after 4 Nxd4 or accept the Morra after all if 4 c3. There is an independent option, but 3...e5!? 4 c3! is quite risky, especially after 4...dxc3?! 5 Nxc3, as covered in Blandon Mena, D - Gamboa, N.
The c3 Sicilian: 2...d5 3 exd5 Nf6 [B22]
Finally, we move away from the Morra and into a line of 1 e4 c5 2 c3, one which can’t also come about via a Morra move order, namely 2...d5 3 exd5 Nf6!?, a topical gambit which even Carlsen has dabbled in, as we’ll see. After 4 Bb5+ Nbd7 5 d4 a6 the critical continuation is 6 Be2! Nxd5 7 Nf3, as pointed out by David Fitzsimons and played by Ian Nepomniachtchi. Instead, 6 Bxd7+?! Qxd7! 7 dxc5 Qxd5 8 Qxd5 Nxd5 9 a3 e5 gives Black easy and good compensation:
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We’ll take a look in Mostertman, M - Peng Li Min, where White never managed to untangle his queenside.
More Anti-Sicilians updates and gambits ahead shortly!
Until then, Richard
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