Download PGN of November '08 Anti-Sicilian games
1 e4 c5 2 b3 [B20]
This line continues to show up here and there. Chinese prodigy Hou Yifan plays the sensible 2...d6 3 Bb2 a6!? Preventing any excursions to b5 in Repkova - Hou:
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A simplifying combination takes the game right into an ending which proves favourable for Black.
2.c3 Sicilian [B22]
Judit Polgar tries to get her lower rated opponent out of book with 1 e4 c5 2 c3 d6 3 d4 Nf6 4.Bd3 Qc7 in Godena - Ju. Polgar. White secures an easy edge and keeps his nerve in taking down his famous, albeit rusty opponent.
In Howell - Shytaj we look at the line 1 e4 c5 2 c3 Nf6 3 e5 Nd5 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 Bc4 Nb6 6 Bb3 c4 7 Bc2 Qc7 8 Qe2 g5:
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White plays 9 e6 fxe6 10 Ng5 and manages to win, but this approach should not be dangerous for Black.
Grand Prix Attack [B23]
Gawain Jones just wrote a fine book on the Grand Prix Attack. In Jones - Nguyen Van Huy Black plays 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 f4 g6 4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Bb5 Nd4 6 0-0 Nxb5 7 Nxb5 d5 8 e5 8 Bg4 9 d4 a6 10 Nc3 c4!?:
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This looks a bit passive, but Black gets a pretty solid position.
Rossolimo 3 Bb5 [B30]
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Nf6 is not as common as some other lines, but it is very respectable. After 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 d3 Black plays 5...Bg4!?:
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in Al Modiaki-Kojima and scores a notable upset.
Zhigalko - Kotronias sees our 3...g6 Rossolimo hero gradually outplay his opponent using the clever line 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 g6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 5 d3 Bg7 6 h3 b6!? once again.
Moscow 3.Bb5+ [B51-2]
In the hybrid line 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ Nc6 4 0-0 Bd7 5 Re1 Nf6 6 c3 a6 White sometimes plays the slightly uncommon 7 Ba4, and this has been gaining in popularity on the solid 7.Bf1 and sharp 7.Bxc6. In Movsesian - Papaioannou White seems to effortlessly gain a slight edge, but there are some ideas for Black in the notes.
In the fashionable line 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5 c4 Nf6 6 Nc3 g6 7 d4 cxd4 8 Nxd4 Bg7 9.h3 Agdestein uncorks 9...Qc7!? 10 b3 10 Qa5 11 Bd2 Nxe4! in Rozentalis - Agdestein and White was unable to get anything more than a symbolic edge:
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Time will tell if this idea chases white players off of 9.h3.
Best wishes, David
Please post you queries on the Anti-Sicilians Forum, or subscribers can write to me at david@ChessPublishing.com if you have any questions or queries.