Download PGN of September ’25 Open Sicilian games
>> Previous Update >>
Sveshnikov 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 9.a4 [B33]
In Jobava, B - Saric, I the players entered a standard but quite rare position after 14...f5:
             |
Baadur came up with an ambitious, but risky novelty 15.Bb5, underestimating his opponent's attacking potential. It was followed by 19.c4? that could have led to a quick loss. Ivan returned the favor with 19...Bf5?, but even after that White was on the verge of a total collapse. Luckily for GM Jobava, at the last moment Black missed 27...Rg8! and a draw was agreed after interesting play with mutual mistakes - both players should be satisfied at the end.
Taimanov 6.Be3 a6 7.g4 b5 8.Nxc6 Qxc6 [B47]
|
|
White played 14.f4, which was most likely deeply analyzed by both players during their home preparation. This includes Anton's innovation 16...Ng4 that invites major simplifications. In the resulting endgame some accuracy is required from Black, but objectively it should be easily holdable. Unfortunately for Anton, at the end he spoiled all his efforts with 45...Kb8?? - an untypical mistake for such a strong and experienced player.
Classical Richter-Rauzer 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.Kb1 [B67]
In Mamedov, R - Xu, X Rauf managed to surprise his opponent with the rare 12.Bf4:
|
|
This choice fully paid off - Black soon went for 15...exd5?! which made his position very difficult. Rauf didn't manage to handle the position properly and almost let the opponent solve his problems. Luckily for him, though, Black was the last to err with 34...Nh5?
Despite such a victory, I think that 12.Be3 is the better try instead of 12.Bf4.
Najdorf Sozin 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 [B86]
The game Demchenko, A - Shankland, S saw the players enter into an interesting and sharp position after 14.g4:
|
|
which was previously covered in Aronian - Ding Liren. Black was the first to deviate with the natural 14...Nd, and soon Sam obtained an acceptable position with decent counter-attacking prospects. As often happens in such situations, one inaccurate move may invite big trouble, and so the impulsive 22...f6? let Anton quickly develop a crushing attack and then liquidate into a winning endgame.
Najdorf 6.Nb3 e6 [B90]
In the next game, Maurizzi, M - Giri, A, Anish went for the ambitious and risky 9...b4:
|
|
in order to take his young opponent out of his comfort zone. This brave choice was fully justified, but there was one shaky moment for GM Giri - 13...Na7? is practically a losing move as White has 14.Qc4! Instead, the routine 14.Bg2? let Black take over the initiative and win in great style. In general, I do not expect to see many followers of Anish's brave approach.
Najdorf 6.h3 e6 7.h4 h6 [B90]
In the game Ivic, V - Abdisalimov, A Black prematurely played 9...Nxd4?!!
|
|
and it let White obtain a harmonious attacking setup. Velimir soon returned the favor with 18.Qg2? but the game eventually went his way after Black's blunder at the end.
Najdorf 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f4 [B90]
In Hovhanisyan, R - Giri, A Black chose the somewhat risky 8...Be7:
|
|
in order to deviate from the somewhat dry 8...exf4. The critical moment came on move 14, when Robert impulsively played 14.Rg1?! that turns into a loss of tempo. This let Anish quickly seize the initiative, and after 19.Bxb6? White's position was practically hopeless.
Undoubtedly, the real challenge for Anish would be seen had White played 14.h4! - we may see further practical tests of this.
Najdorf 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Re1 [B92]
In the last game, Sadhwani, R - Woodward, A, Black chose a risky and ambitious way to meet the quiet setup with 10.Bf3:
|
|
The aggressive 10...b5, followed by 12...a5 has a serious positional drawback, and it was nicely exploited by 13.c4! Moreover, the provocative 16...Bh6? put Andy on the verge of a collapse, but then his higher-rated opponent started to err. A few mistakes, starting with 19.Bxh6? and finally 28.Qe3? let Black achieve a winning position. Luckily for Andy, his own mistake 35...Bc6? didn't change much, and he managed to score a full point.
See you next month, Michael
>> Previous Update >>
Please feel free to share any of your thoughts at the Open Sicilians Forum, or subscribers can write directly to support@chesspublishing.com