Download PGN of November ’25 Open Sicilian games
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Sveshnikov 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Ne7 [B33]
In the game Yakubboev, N - Nguyen, T White chose the positional approach 9.a4, and it took the game into a long manoeuvring struggle. In the position after 18.f4:
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Black came up with a decent novelty 18...Re8, improving over the previously played Grandelius - Rapport. The first critical moment came on move 21, when GM Nguyen decided to lock the center with 21...e4?!, which could have led to an unpleasant position. Luckily for him, Nodirbek immediately returned the favor with 22.Ne2?! Moreover, in his attempt to win, White took a major risk with 28.b4?! followed by 33.Rxh5? Perhaps, at the end a draw was agreed to mutual satisfaction.
Kan 5.Nc3 b5 6.g3 Bb7 7.Bg2 Nc6!? [B43]
The game Sindarov, J - Theodorou, N saw Black demonstrates a safe alternative to the main gambit lines, where White sacrifices their central pawn. In the position after 10...Nc6:
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Javokhir played the somewhat original 11.Qe3. Nikolas certainly didn't get confused - the strong reply 12...Ne5!, followed by 15...f6 and 16...g5 allowed Black to fully solve all his problems. Moreover, it was Black who could most likely have pushed a bit more in this game.
Richter-Rauzer 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.0-0-0 [B66]
The important theoretical position after 11...Bb7 was recently seen twice at a high level.
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First, in Erenberg, A - Dardha, D White chose 12.Bb3 Qc7 13.f4, but Daniel managed to quickly solve all the issues by pushing 16...d5 (he could have played it earlier as well). This was a high-level game that logically ended in a draw.
Second, in Harikrishna, P - Dardha, D White managed to quickly confuse his well-prepared opponent with 12.Rhe1 Qa5 13.Kb1. Black reacted with 13...Qa5? that allowed White to develop a crushing attack very soon. Undoubtedly, there are a few ways to improve Black's side - such as 12...Qc7!? Or 13...h5!?
Richter-Rauzer 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.Kb1 Be7 10.Nxc6 [B67]
The game Sargsyan, S - Cori, J is a good illustration of the venom of the trendy 9.Kb1 line:
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Perhaps Jorge messed something up in his preparation, as 13...d5? is a typical positional mistake that makes Black's position practically lost. The rest was full of mutual mistakes, where Black could have saved half a point at the very end.
Najdorf 6.Bd3 e5 7.Nde2 Nc6 [B90]
The next game, Esipenko, A - Idani, P, saw White employ a very interesting and surprising novelty 9.Nd5!?:
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This surprise effect did its job, and the concession 11...Rxa6?! let White obtain the better position. However, GM Esipenko didn't manage to handle the position properly and allowed Black to more than equalize. Luckily for him, his lower-rated opponent still committed the most mistakes in the final phase.
Najdorf 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.g4 h6 9.Be3 b5 [B90]
In Zverev, L - Grischuk, A the players entered a sharp theoretical position after 14.Nxa8:
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Here Black played the ambitious 14...d5!? It seems to offer interesting compensation for an exchange, but soon Alexander went astray with 17...bxa4? This could have invited major issues, but White more that returned the favor with 23.hxg4??, allowing Black to quickly develop a stunning attack.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qe2 Be7 [B95]
The last game, Tsydypov, Z - Matlakov, M, saw an interesting discussion in one of the sidelines with 7.Qe2. In the relatively rare position after 10.Bd2 Black correctly played 10...e5!, accepting the exchange of his light-squared bishop:
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Maxim reasonably assumed that his strong pawn center after 15...d5 would provide Black with sufficient counterplay. Moreover, the careless 18.0-0-0?! and 19.Qf4? should have led White to a quick collapse. Alas, GM Matlakov didn't manage to find the elegant 24...Rxc2+! and let his advantage disappear. The rest was full of mutual mistakes, where Black was the last to err.
See you next month, Michael
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