Download PGN of July ’19 Anti-Sicilian games
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Anti-Sveshnikov Variation 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 g6 [B30]
Carlsen essayed his pet line in Nepomniachtchi, I - Carlsen, M:
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After 5.d3 h6 6.h4 d6 7.h5 g5 8.Nh2 Bg7 (varying from a previous game against MVL where he played 8...Nf6) the players soon reached a blocked position where Carlsen landed ...b5 and ...f5, Nepo blundered and lost.
Rossolimo Variation 3...e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Ne7 6.h4 [B30]
In Giri, A - Carlsen, M, after 6...h5 7.e5 Black essayed the shocking (and very rare) 7...d6!?:
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No one is able to compete with Carlsen at the moment and Giri soon went astray, losing a miniature.
Hybrid Variation 4.0-0 Bd7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 a6 7.Bf1 Bg4 [B51]
Giri remained faithful to the Rossolimo despite his opening round disaster and essayed 8.d4!? in Giri, A - Mamedyarov, S:
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After 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc3 e6 12.h3 Black fell for a very effective trap (which has caught several GMs unawares) by retreating to h5, which is unplayable, instead of taking on f3, which is okay.
Rossolimo Variation 3...g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.0-0 Bg7 6.Re1 Nh6 7.c3 0-0 8.d4 [B31]
In Svidler, P - Dubov, D, Black demonstrated his customary outstanding preparation, completely neutralising the sharp line beginning 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 f6 11.e6 Qd6 12.Qe2.
Rossolimo Variation 3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Nc3 [B31]
Pavel Eljanov demonstrated interesting ideas with both colours in sidelines here.
In Eljanov, P - Dubov, D, 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Nc3 was tried, and met with 5...Nh6!?:
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A very tough fight ended in a white victory.
Rossolimo Variation 3...g6 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 [B31]
In Smirin, I - Eljanov, P, after 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Black uncorked a brilliant pawn sacrifice, 5...e5 6.0-0 Bg7!:
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Smirin took the pawn, which doesn’t seem to be a great idea, and was quickly in trouble. After more sedate moves Black has a comfortable Botvinnik setup, so this game is a major challenge to 4.c3.
Moscow Variation 3...Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Nxd7 5.0-0 Ngf6 6.Qe2 [B52]
Vishy made two quite different draws with the Moscow Variation in Croatia.
In Anand, V - Vachier Lagrave, M, after 4...Nxd7 5.0-0 Ngf6 6.Qe2 Rc8 7.b3:
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the position quickly became stale and a draw was ultimately agreed.
Moscow Variation 3...Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 e5 [B52]
In Anand, V - Caruana, F, after 4...Qxd7 5.c4 e5, Black aimed for a Botvinnik structure but soon erred.
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, meeting 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.d3 g6 8.h4 with 8...Nf6?! 9.Nd5 Nxd5? 10.cxd5 Nb4?!. Black was busted from the opening but somehow created enough confusion to draw.
Till next time, Sam
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