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I am not sure if the variation: 1 e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd 4.Qxd4 has a name, although I see that Gary Lane liked to call it the Zaitsev, so I'll stick with that. In any case, this month we focus on one particular aspect of this variation, a line that can also arise from a variation we have been considering in the two previous updates: 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ Nc6 4 d4 cd 5 Qxd4.


Download PGN of March '06 Anti-Sicilian games


Zaitsev Qxd4 [B53]

Rozentalis - Sendera features the attempt by White to set up a Marocy structure after 7.c4!? and Black resisting with the critical 7...f5!?:

My impression is that this line is fully playable for Black, with some care, but I also think Black is ok if he plays more solidly, with 7...Nf6 as in Campora - Bruzon.

Svidler - Kasparov is quite a famous game, and I have used it to try to make sense of the line: 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 e6 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.Rhe1 0-0:

I used to think that this position was better for White, but now I am not at all sure.

If one high-level Black win in this line wasn't enough, Timman - Topalov provides some corroborating evidence, albeit in a slightly different fashion. Common to both games, however, is Black showing the power of his unopposed light squared bishop, and the bishop pair more generally.



c3 Sicilian [B22]

Gaponenko - Sutovsky is a noteworthy attempt by Black to play against the IQP in a more combative fashion than normal. After 2...d5 3.ed Qxd5 4.d4 e6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Be2 cd 7.cd Nc6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Nc3 Black normally plays 9...Qd6 and has no particular theoretical problems, but Sutovsky tries 9...Qa5 and quickly had the better position:

However, my impression is that White's play can easily be improved.



Queenside Fianchetto [B20 & B40]

Plaskett - Navara features the line 4...d5 5.Bb5! and doesn't change the assessment that this in White's favour:

However, it does suggest that even this line is playable for Black, which, to my mind, is further evidence that 3.b3!? does not have much theoretical mileage.

2.b3 is a different story, because White gains a lot by having his f-pawn free:

I am not totally sure what to make of the opening in the game Shaw - Shneider, but the game as a whole features an impressive display from my compatriot, with some skilful moves keeping the early initiative burning and highly proficient technique in the rook endgame. My general feeling is that Black shouldn't encourage White by playing ...e5 and allowing f4, but if subscribers are interested, I will return to this line in a future update.



That's all for now. See you in a month or so. Jonathan


I welcome e-mails from subscribers, please write to jonathan@chesspublishing.com. You can also try the Anti-Sicilians Forum.