ForumHelpSearchMy ProfileSite InfoGuests InfoRepertoireLinks
Hi all,
Some high level games this month, with the white pieces being handled by current or former World Champions in three games.

Download PGN of May ’18 Anti-Sicilian games

>> Previous Update >>


Anti-Sveshnikov Variation 4.Bc4 Be7 5.d3 Nf6 [B30]

Navara, D - Radjabov, T featured an enterprising pawn sacrifice after 6.Ng5 0-0 7.f4 exf4 8.Bxf4, namely 8...d5!? 9.exd5 Nd4!:

Radjabov easily equalised and, as the notes show, Black appears to have a good game in all variations.



Rossolimo Variation 4.Bb5 Qc7 5.Bxc6 Qxc6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Qc7 [B30]

In Kryvoruchlo, Y - Tabatabaei, M White essayed the interesting 8.Ndb5!?, a move which poses immediate problems for Black:

Tabatabaei went wrong on move 11 and lost quickly.


Rossolimo Variation 3...g6 4.Bxc6 [B31]

Vishy Anand gave a masterclass on the white side of the Rossolimo en route to winning the rapid section of the Tal Memorial.

Anand, V - Dubov, D featured the enormously popular 4...bxc6 5.0-0 Bg7 6.Re1 Nh6 7.c3 0-0 8.h3 f5 9.e5 Nf7 10.d3. Here Dubov uncorked a new plan with 10...a5!?, with the subtle idea of bringing the rook into play along the seventh rank:

He went badly wrong but the idea seems excellent, and poses yet another headache for White in this line.

Anand, V - Grischuk, A saw a previous tabiya of the Rossolimo after 4...dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.h3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be3 b6 9.Qd2 e5 10.Bh6 Qd6 11.0-0-0 a5:

Black’s chances seem no worse in this sharp position, although Anand ultimately won with the help of a stunning tactic.



Kingside Fianchetto 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 a6 4.g3 b5 5.Bg2 Bb7 [B40]

This line leads to complicated play in which the stronger player typically prevails, and so was a brave choice in Zherebukh, Y - Caruana, F. After 6.d3 Nc6 7.0-0 d6 White essayed 8.Ng5!?, an old idea of Simagin’s:

Caruana was doing well throughout and won easily.



Moscow 3..Nd7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.Re1 b5 7.c3 Bb7 8.Bc2 c4 9.a4 e6 [B51]

This is probably the main line of the Moscow these days, and in Mamedov, R - Karjakin, S the players demonstrated some key points of the critical variation with 10.axb5 axb5 11.Rxa8 Qxa8 12.Na3 Bxe4 13.Bxe4 Nxe4 14.d3 cxd3 15.Nxb5 Qb7:

Black needs to know or calculate the next few moves to reach safety, but Karjakin had no difficulties in steering the game towards a drawn endgame.



2. Nc3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 [B23]

In Carlsen, M - Wojtaszek, R, the World Champion used an old favourite of Gashimov, but with a new idea to meet 4...Nc6 with 5.Qd2 Nf6 6.b3!?:

I have no doubt that this move will receive further practical tests, especially since Black’s defence was far from accurate.


Zaitsev Variation 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Qd3 [B53]

Vallejo Pons, F - Sadzikowski, D is a typical game where White plays for a Maroczy Bind with the bishop on b5 (as in the 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.c4 line):

Black mixes something up in the opening and puts a knight on a5, which is quickly lost.



Till next time, Sam

>> Previous Update >>

Please post you queries on the Anti-Sicilians Forum, or subscribers can write to me at support@ChessPublishing.com if you have any questions or queries.