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This month, we turn our focus to Moscow variations. As you might know by now, I’m a fan of setups with d3 and c4 for White, which don’t require a great amount of theoretical knowledge.
We’ll look at two of these setups, including 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Be2 Ngf6 6.d3 which is growing in popularity, and I expect to see more of at high-level. The other is one of my favourites: 4.Ba4 Ngf6 5.0-0, followed by 6.d3 and 7.c4.
McShane’s game against Vitiugov in the London Chess Classic highlighted a Moscow line I’d never dug into, which goes 3..Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.0-0. I’d recommend this line for White, though you are taking the risk that Black can more or less force a draw if they know it by heart!
Finally, there’s room for another Rossolimo 3..g6 subline. I’ve not personally faced this line, but it seems to be played fairly often, so deserves attention.

Download PGN of February ’26 Anti-Sicilian games

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Moscow 3..Nd7: 4.0-0 a6 5.Be2 [B51]

As this is the most common setup for Black, we need to continuously look for new ideas for White. The game at the London Chess Classic caught my attention, as it continued 5..Ngf6 6.d3:

6..b6. After a balanced opening, White ultimately came out on top in Adams, M - Shankland, S.

Black chose a similar setup but using a different order, with 6..g6 7.c4 b6 in Grebnev, A - Bocharov, D, which eventually went Black’s way, though White did well in the opening.

I’m not sure I’d recommend this line for White, but they're always useful as a back-up option.


Moscow 3..Nd7: 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.0-0 [B51]

This line, however, I would recommend - though it is ultimately a draw if Black is very, very well prepared (like any opening!)

Black was not so well prepared in Motylev, A - Avila Pavas, S, where White demonstrated exemplary play. The instructive game continued 6..a6 7.Bd3 Nc5 8.Re1 e6. After a bumpy ride and some luck, White went on to win.

Vitiugov shows us what it means to be well prepared in this line. I don’t expect anyone below 2500 to know the line this well, so it certainly won’t put me off from playing it, despite it being close to a forced draw.

The line goes 6..e5 7.Nf5 a6 8.Bd3 Nc5 9.Nc3 d5 and continues for quite some time.

White was not be able to break his savvy opponent, and a draw was agreed in McShane, L - Vitiugov, N. A true lesson in opening theory.


Moscow 3..Nd7: 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 e6 6.d3 [B51]

One of my favourite lines is back again! Our games continued 6..Be7 7.c4 0-0 8.Nc3 a6 9.Qe2:

Black chose 9..Rb8, which I’m not convinced is useful - though not necessarily bad. White found a good idea in 10.h3 Qc7 11.Bd2 b6 12.Nh2 and won in convincing fashion in Donchenko, A - Sidhant, M.

I prefer the move 9..b6, seen in Bosiocic, M - Brunner, N. Another White win occurred after 10.d4 Bb7 11.d5, though Black was doing quite well after the opening. In fact, I would probably recommend this line as Black!



Rossolimo 3..g6: 4.Bxc6 bxc6 and 6...Qc7 [B31]

After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.0-0 Bg7 6.Re1, we will look into the subline 6..Qc7!?:

Both our games went 7.c3 d6 8.h3 Nf6 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 0-0 11.Nc3 c5:

and reached a crossroads.

White went for 12.e5 in Maze, S - Efroimski, M and won a convincing game. I liked his approach, and would recommend it over 12.d5, which went rather badly for White in Quesada Perez, Y - Galaviz Medina, S.



Till next time, Ezra

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