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2 c3 Sicilian 2...d5 3.exd5 Nf6 4.d4 Nxd5 [B22]
We start off with a question by Doug Schwetke, who writes:
«Greetings GM Smerdon,
In GM King's latest chessbase DVD he gives the following line in the c3 - Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Nf6 4.d4 Nxd5. On the Anti-Sicilian site only 4...cxd4 is given. I have noticed that GM Teske plays this line.
What is your opinion?»
A very good question. I have a lot of time for Danny King's opening ideas, as they're usually both practical and sound. This one is no exception:
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The variation is also a good example of how to source themes from different openings to apply them throughout your repertoire. In the game Seger - Teske, we'll see why I think it's a good idea for 2.c3 Sicilian players to be familiar with the Panov Attack against the Caro Kann. This perhaps makes the most sense as a choice against the Caro in general, as it's geared towards isolated pawn positions, but you can even see from this game that direct transpositions are possible. I've never been a fan of trying to hold on to the d5 pawn in the 3...Nf6 variation, but my suggestion instead reaches a relatively favourable version of the Panov Attack in which a 2.c3 player should feel comfortable in handling the IQP.
Kobalia - Cernousek (which comes from a completely different opening altogether and is classified as D41!) transposes into the 3..Nf6 variation and shows how White should handle the common transition from the IQP to hanging c- and d-pawns:
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The resulting positions here are very similar to those often encountered from a more orthodox 2.c3 Nf6 variation.
2.c3 Sicilian 2...Nf6, ...e6, ...d6 [B22]
In fact, our very next game, Mamedov - Wojtaszek, started this way and reaches a position after 14 moves that is almost identical to the Kobalia game, but could also have been reached from a Panov Attack in the Caro-Kann, as well as less common transpositions from the Scandinavian, Alekhine's Defence or even the 1.d4 Colle!
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Definitely the sort of position you should study, if only for your chess understanding in general.
2.c3 Sicilian 2...d5, 5...Bf5 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Qb3!? [B22]
Rausis - Navara is a 'regular' 2.c3 d5 variation with ...Bf5. Rausis doesn't follow our recommendation from last month (7.Na3! cxd4 8.Bc4!), but instead chooses to offer an endgame with 7.Qb3!?:
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This is a very safe and solid choice, although in the game, Navara goes pawn-hunting, allowing White to quickly build up a ferocious attack. A crazy, entertaining game follows, but theoretically MVL's 7.Na3 should still be preferred.
2.c3 Sicilian 2...Nf6, delayed d2-d4, 8.0-0!? [B22]
Mamedov takes the black pieces in Savchenko - Mamedov, a 2.c3 Nf6 main line with the delayed d2-d4. Readers will know by now my preference for the main line with 8.Qe2, but Boris has another idea, sacrificing a pawn early on in the game with 8.0-0:
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Black should be able to defend against this sacrifice with accurate play, but there's no doubt that it's a tricky one to handle over the board. Worth adding to the arsenal for an occasional whirl.
Anti Advanced French 2 Nf3 e6 3 c3 d5 4 e5 d4 [B40]
Smerdon - Ducarmon (technically B40) is a familiar story: I write an article about a forgotten line on this site, and then get to try it out a few weeks later!
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It's last month's "Anti-French" 2.c3 Sicilian, where I managed to quickly build up a winning position just by knowing the unusual structure a bit better than my opponent. The game had a bunch of twists and turns after I completely mucked up my opening advantage, but the game just confirms what I've been preaching: Careful study of my notes on these unusual Antis can pick you up easy points!
2.c3 Sicilian 2...g6/Hyper Accelerated Dragon [B27]
Fressinet - Guseinov is our last 2.c3 game this month, in which we take a look at the fairly popular ...g6/...d5 setup. 6...Nh6 is a little unusual, but transpositions to the main lines are quite common.
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In general, I think White should meet an early ...Nh6 with Bf4, and we'll see in the notes that White has good prospects of an opening advantage in this variation.
Moscow Variation 3...Nd7 4 d4 Ngf6 5 e5!? [B51]
Finally, our last game is - wait for it - NOT a 2.c3 Sicilian! I've chosen Naroditsky - Molner from the recent US Championships to showcase a brilliant white victory against the accepted 'book' recommendation for Black after 5.e5!?:
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As you can see in my notes, 5...Qa5+?! is immediately very good for White, and after nine moves White was basically winning. Unfortunately, the rare 5...cxd4! seems to equalise; fortunately, Black plays 5...Qa5+ almost ninety percent of the time! The lesson is simple: Learn this line well and start playing it immediately, because surely black players will catch on eventually, but there are points for the taking right now!
Til next month, Dave
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