Download PGN of October ’16 Anti-Sicilian games
>> Previous Update >>
2 c3 Sicilian 2...d5 Main line 6 Na3 [B22]
Smerdon, D - Carlsen, M features Dave in action with one of his ChessPub recommendations, 7.Nc4:
             |
He outplays the World Champion with aggressive, active chess, but missed a chance for a serious advantage and the game ended in perpetual.
2.c3 Sicilian 2...Nf6, ...e6/...d6 system [B22]
Smerdon, D - Saric, I was an IQP battle after the rare 9.exd6:
|
|
Dave rejects a couple of opportunities to play for a symmetrical structure and Saric gets the upper hand in a sharp struggle.
Arenas Vanegas, D - Topalov, V features a poor, trappy line with 12.Ng5?!:
|
|
Topalov shows a cool head and good preparation, calling White's bluff and taking most of his pieces.
2 c3 Sicilian 2...d5 Main line 6 Bd3 [B22]
Smerdon, D - Vachier Lagrave, M shows Dave on the white side of another c3-Sicilian, this time against the world number 2.
|
|
MVL plays into a typical IQP position and quickly gets the upper hand when Dave selects an unusual plan based on bringing his bishop to e5.
Rossolimo Variation 3...g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6, 6...Nh6 [B31]
A couple of important games happened in this trendy line. Adams, M - Harikrishna, P featured the topical 9...c4 pawn sacrifice which was introduced by Dubov and adopted by Gelfand in his match against Inarkiev:
|
|
Adams responded with a very interesting novelty, 10.d4, followed by an exchange sacrifice. Both players show great form and a well-played game ends in a draw.
In Caruana, F - Eljanov, P we see a novelty with 11.Na3:
|
|
The players quickly reach a complex structure and it seems that Caruana was more familiar with the key ideas, in particular based on a pawn sacrifice to obtain a passed a-pawn.
Anti-Sveshnikov 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4 Bc4 [B30]
In Vachier Lagrave, M - Zhigalko, S we see the Frenchman's pet line yet again, which was met with the rare 11...a6:
|
|
Zhigalko shows excellent preparation and convincingly equalises.
2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 [B50]
In Smerdon, D - Wojtaszek, R, Anand's second shows good preparation against a sideline, going for the system with 6...Nc6.
|
|
Dave doesn't respond well and quickly gets into a strategically inferior position, which Black wins with wonderfully instructive technique.
Till next time, Sam
>> Previous Update >>
Please post you queries on the Anti-Sicilians Forum, or subscribers can write to me at support@ChessPublishing.com if you have any questions or queries.