Download PGN of February ’24 Open Sicilian games
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The Four Knights 6.Ndb5 Bc5 7.Nd6+ [B45]
We start with Gumularz, S - Soffer, R where the players entered a theoretical position after 10...d6:
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White deviated from the previously covered Piorun - Abasov with 11.Bc4, which doesn't seem to offer anything special. Even so, Ram soon wrongly accepted the pawn sacrifice and came under strong positional pressure. The further interesting play was full of mutual mistakes, where only 42...Qf8? eventually decided the struggle in White's favor.
The Four Knights 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qc7 [B45]
An interesting theoretical discussion in one of the most researched lines took place in Huang, R - Lu, S. In the common position after 18.Rg1:
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Black played 18...h6!?. This is a new move for our site, but it couldn't confuse Lu Shaglei's opponent as he had already played this way before. Only on move 23 did Black deviate from Mohaved - Lu,S with 23...Ke7. It looks like Black should be able to hold the endgame after this, although his practical task isn't easy at all. In fact, the impulsive 42...Rc2?? should have led to an immediate loss, but Renije soon returned the favor.
Although there is no clear way to show White's superiority after 18....h6!? it doesn't seem to convincingly solve all Black's issues, at least from a human point of view.
Najdorf 6.Bd3 g6 [B90]
Our first debate in the 6.Bd3 line was Nepomniatchi, I - Vachier Lagrave, M, where Ian was trying to improve over the previously covered Sychev - Volokitin with 12.h4:
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Maxime reacted well, but a few moves later wrongly switched to defensive paths with 15...Ne7?! followed by 16...Rc6?!. It allowed Ian to quickly develop a strong initiative, starting with 17.Nd5! - White was completely dominating till the end of the game. Despite such a defeat, 6...g6 still looks like a practical way to meet 6.Bd3.
Najdorf 6.Bd3 e5 7.Nde2 [B90]
Another Nepomniatchi, I - Vachier Lagrave, M game saw the relatively rare 7...e5 8.Nde2 Nc6, previously covered in Svidler - Shankland. Ian's new move 9.Ng3 doesn't seem to pose Black serious problems, and the ambitious 9...h5 is one decent response:
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The play was balanced till 13.Nxh5? as opening the h-file could prove fatal for White's monarch. Luckily for Ian, his opponent missed a few winning opportunities, starting with 14...Qc8?. In general, this exciting game was full of mutual mistakes, where MVL was the last to err at the very end with 48...Kf3??.
Najdorf 6.h3 Nc6 7.Be3 e5 [B90]
Our next game, Vidit, S - Firouzja, A, is actually a dramatic opening disaster. The sharp position after 14.Nd2:
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was seen on our site few years ago, when the critical 14...d5 leads to a complex middlegame by force, where Black's compensation for the piece is questionable. Perhaps Alireza messed up something and instead went 14...Qa4+? which allows White to secure his king and maintain the material advantage. Vidit's further play wasn't perfect, but Black didn't have any realistic chance for survival till the end.
Najdorf 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Be7 9.Qd2 h5 [B90]
The game Ter Sahakyan, S - Andriasian, Z is a good illustration of Black's strategic issues in case of poor home preparation in the Najdorf with 6.Be3. In the position after 13.0-0 Zaven deviated from the previously covered Nakar - Tari with 13...Bg6?:
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This dubious continuation allowed him to defeat as strong a player as GM Vidit some time ago, but it was exactly what Samvel was ready for. White responded with 14.Na5! and managed to quickly expand his initiative by advancing the q-side pawns. It is not so clear where Zaven could have put up more resistance - the remaining game demonstrates White's huge positional advantage in case Black lacks an active plan.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qf3 [B95]
The next game, Praggnanandhaa, R - Maghsoodloo, P, saw Ramesh play the rare 7.Qf3 to confuse his experienced opponent:
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It looks like Parham wasn't well-prepared in this sideline - Black missed a few decent options such as 7...h6 or 9...b5!, and after 10.Bd2! White managed to seize the initiative. The really critical moment came on move 23, when 23.Bg5! could have put Black's king in big danger. Instead, 23.Bxg4?! let Parham consolidate and the game ended in a draw after some interesting play.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qe2 [B95]
In our last game, Praggnanandhaa, R - Wei Yi, White went for another relatively uncommon line with 7.Qe2 Be7 8.h4:
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Seemingly, 8...h6 9.Bh4 e5, as played by GM Wei Yi isn't optimal - White missed a great opportunity of building a decent attacking setup with 13.Be3! The remaining game was well-played by both and it ended in a draw at move 44.
See you next month, Michael
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