Download PGN of July ’21 Anti-Sicilian games
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2.Nc3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.d4!? [B23]
This line (like the Carlsen Variation, but with a trade of light-squared bishops) had escaped my attention, but looks quite interesting:
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Quite a playable Dragon type structure arises after 5...cxd4 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Qd3 g6 8.Nf3 Bg7 9.0-0 Nf6:
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In Sanal, V - Stukan, M, we’ll cover early deviations, while Mamedov, R - Van Wely, L shows the dangers after the main move 10.Nd5!.
Grand Prix Attack: 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Nf6 [B23]
This is another dangerous line which Nadjorf players need to know or avoid. In Abasov, N - Grandelius, N, White avoided the direct 6.e5 in favour of 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Qf2 Nbd7 9.h3:
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Black was fine from the opening but lost a very complex game.
Rossolimo: 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Nf3 Nxb5 5.Nxb5 d6 6.d4 a6 7.Nc3 exd4 8.Qxd4 [B23]
In Mamedov, R - Kirk, E, White showed the dangers of this line after the main continuation 8...e5 9.Qd3:
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This avoids 9.Qb4!?, which is likely to become popular after Gawain’s recent endorsement.
Rossolimo Variation: 3...e6 4.0-0 Nd4 [B30]
In Ragger, M - Van Foreest, J, White played the critical 5.Nxd4 cxd4 6.c3 a6 7.Be2! against this rare line:
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However, after 7...Bc5, he avoided the best 8.Na3! in favour of 8.d3, when Black consolidated the d4-pawn and made an effortless draw.
Moscow: 3...Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Nxd7 5.0-0 Ngf6 6.Qe2 e6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Be7 9.c4 [B52]
In Bacrot, E - Oparin, G Black played Sam Shankland’s recommendation 9...Qa5! (aimed at preventing b3 and Bb2), to which White responded with the clever 10.Rd1!? (still aiming for the ideal setup).
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The game quickly headed to a level endgame, but I expect further tests and there is a promising early alternative for White.
Moscow Variation: 3...Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.0-0 Nf6 6.Qe2 [B52]
In that most august tournament, the Mr. Dodgy Invitational 2.0, after 5.0-0 Nf6 6.Qe2 Nc6 7.c3 e6 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 Ne4 Anish Giri played the innocuous-looking 11.Nbd2 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Be7 against Nils Grandelius, with the new twist 13.g3!?:
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In the French Team Championship, Grandelius, N - Mamedov, R featured the same line, rapidly resulting in an overwhelming position for White against an Anti-Sicilian expert.
Moscow Variation: 3...Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d4 [B52]
In Navara, D - Grandelius, N, after 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d4 cxd4 White essayed the very rare 8.Qxd4!?:
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After 8...Nc6 9.Qd3 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Bd2, White’s setup shouldn’t pose many problems, although Black’s aggressive response was objectively dubious.
Till next time, Sam
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