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Hi all,
This month I’ve featured several battles from Abidjan and the Moscow tie breaks where, despite limited time, GMs had every incentive to show their preparation.

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!?:











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!?:











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!?:











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:











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:











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.











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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