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Hi,
It's a bit of a mixed bag this month. I look at a couple of rare lines as well as trying to fill in some systems that haven't seen much coverage on our site so far.

Download PGN of October '08 Anti-Sicilian games


Big Clamp 1 e4 c5 2 d3 [B20]

2700+ Sergei Movsesian still wheels out the Big Clamp now and then:











A good example of White's play against indifferent (very indifferent) play can be seen in the game Movsesian - Dancevski.



2.c3 Sicilian [B22]

A variation that has been largely ignored recently is Gallagher's old recommendation 1 e4 c5 2 c3 Nf6 3 e5 Nd5 4 d4 cxd4 5 Nf3 e6 6 cd4 b6!?:











In Can - Ludwig White plays the sharpest line 12.Ng5!?, and wins quickly.



Grand Prix Attack [B23]

Greet - Zhang Zhong looks at the line 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 e6 3 f4 d5 4 Nf3 Nc6 5 Bb5 Nge7 and now the unusual 6 Ne5!? (instead of 6 exd5):











Black takes over the initiative very quickly, but White had a couple of unconventional ways to try to stir up trouble.



Anti-Sveshnikov 3.Nc3 [B30]

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 was very popular at high levels a few years ago, but its luster has worn off for the elite. Nevertheless, it is a viable choice and leads to a very strategic game. After 4...Be7 5.d3 d6 6 Nd2 Bg5 White eschews the usual 7 h4 and plays the simple 7.Nf1!?:











Originally played by Tony Kosten, see Fedorchuk - Shirov.



Moscow: 3...Nd7 [B51]

Personally, I have never been a big fan of 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ Nd7. Although this variation is usually held to be the best winning attempt, it always felt a bit passive to me. Here we look at the slightly uncommon 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6!?:











This has been considered risky for awhile for reasons discuss in the notes, though I like Alekseev's 8.d5! in Alekseev - Timofeev.


Moscow 3...Bd7 [B52]

In the line 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ Bd7 4 Bxd7+ Qxd7 5 c4 Nf6 6 Nc3 Nc6 7 d4 cxd4 8 Nxd4, the move 8...Qg4 has always been considered a reasonable equalizing attempt. However, I believe this move actually leads to a rather prospectless game for Black, see Ni Hua-Shengalia.

In Malakhov - Shomoev we see another strong GM try 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!?:











This should not be dangerous, but it has its little points and Black should at least be aware of it.



4 Qxd4 Sicilian [B51]

White uses the sneaky move order 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ Nc6 4 d4 cxd4 5 Qxd4 in Bogut - Cheparinov.











This line is not harmless and White would have his chances against his famous opponent had he played for the initiative instead of small positional gains.



Best wishes, David


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