Download PGN of June ’19 Anti-Sicilian games
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Rossolimo Variation 3...g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.h3 e5 [B31]
This line was tested a couple of times between Amin and Carlsen in Abidjan. In their rapid game, Amin, B - Carlsen, M, after 7.Be3 (Amin varied in blitz with 7.a4) 7...b6 8.a3 Carlsen played a novelty, 8...f5!?:
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The game followed the narrative of all Magnus’ rapid games in this line recently and Amin was dead lost by move 16.
Rossolimo 3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.e5 Nd5 7.Nc3 Nc7 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.Ne4 b6 [B31]
In Grandelius, N - Nihal, S, White went for the critical 10.Nf6+ Kf8 11.Ne4 and, after 11...Bg4 12.d3 Ne6, the rare and active 13.Neg5!?:
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His young 2600 opponent boldly went pawn grabbing (13...Nxg5 14.Bxg5 Qd5 15.Re4 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Bxe5), which should lead to a draw with best play, but after mutual mistakes the game ended in a rout.
Moscow 3...Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.Re1 e6 7.c3 b5 8.Bc2 c4 9.a4 Bb7 10.d4 [B51]
This line has become very trendy recently with Amin leading the way for White. In Amin, B - So, W, after 13.Be3, So boldly grabbed the pawn with 13...Nfxe4!?:
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I find it hard to understand what happened next since it appears that Amin had massive compensation before a mistake condemned him to a horrible endgame. So’s treatment might inspire followers but requires, at a minimum, very detailed preparation.
Moscow Variation 3...Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bxd7+ Bxd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.Qd3 [B51]
This line was extensively tested in the Moscow Grand Prix. In Wei, Y - Nepomniachtchi, I, the players discussed the position arising after 8... h6 9.Nd2 Rc8 10.Nc4 Be6 11.Ne3 Nf6 12.0-0:
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Nepo improved on his previous game against Duda and a well-played game ended in a draw.
The tiebreaks to the Nepomniachtchi, I - Wojtaszek, R match featured the position after 8...Rc8 9.0-0 h6 10.Nd2 Qc7 11.h3 Nf6 12.a4 Be7 13.Rd1 0-0 14.Nf1:
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In a 25 minute game Black played 14...Be6, while in a 10 minute game he essayed the bold 14...d5!?. This seems to be an outstanding novelty, although it came to an unfortunate end.
Moscow Variation 3...Nd7 4.c3 Nfg6 5.Bd3!? [B51]
Previously I only covered 5.Qe2 here, and I only learned of the 5.Bd3!? system from Amin, B - Donchenko, A.
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To make up for this omission of an important line, I’ve also analysed the main options for Black based on 5...g6 (Ju, W - Raja, R) and 5...b6 (in Tsolakidou, S - Demuth, A).
Till next time, Sam
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