Download PGN of October ’25 Open Sicilian games
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Sveshnikov 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 9.Rg1 [B33]
We start with Vaishali, R - Muzychuk, M, where Black came up with the natural novelty, 12...Bg5:
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Vaishali responded with 13.Bxg5 Qxg5 14.Qd2, but the endgame turned out to be comfortable for Black. Moreover, the impulsive 25.g5? could have invited big trouble had Mariya found 26...Raf8! or 30...Re8+! Alas, the game was decided by Black's blunder at the very end.
Four Knights 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qc7 9.f4 Qb6 10.c4 Bb4+ 11.Ke2 f5 [B45]
The game Mishra, A -Vachier Lagrave, M is an illustration of deep opening preparation by both players. White played the rare 13.Nxf6+!?:
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followed by the strong novelty 17.Kf2! However, it didn't get Maxime confused - Black played the correct 18...e5!, and a draw was agreed after optimal play by both players.
Classical Richter-Rauzer 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd3 Bd7 [B62]
The game Artemiev, V - Lagarde, M saw Vladislav follows my recommendation with 15.exd5 in one of the sharpest Classical sidelines. The players soon entered a critical position after 16.Bd3:
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Here Maxime came up with a dubious novelty 16...Qc8?!, and it was followed by the impulsive 20...e4? As a result, Black son found himself in a completely lost position. Surprisingly, at the very end Vladislav committed 2 serious mistakes and even lost the game.
Najdorf 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f4 b5 [B90]
In Esipenko, A - Nepomniatchi, I Black went for the rare, but natural 9...exf4!?:
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White responded with a novelty 11.Qe2, and it fully paid off - Ian choose the wrong plan, starting with 11...Nd7 and 12...Nce5?! and soon came under strong pressure. Alas, in the later stage he didn't manage to put-up much resistance - a well-deserved win for GM Esipenko.
Despite such a loss, I expect further practical tests of 9...exf4!?
Najdorf 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.g4 h6 9.Be3 [B90]
Another interesting theoretical discussion took place in Henriquez Villagra, C - Artemiev, V. In the sharp theoretical position after 10...Bb7:
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White played the rare 11.a4, and it was met by the early novelty 11...Nxd5. It seems that this confused Cristobal, and he went for the dubious 13.Rg1?! Luckily for him, his higher-rated opponent was far from at his best, and a few mistakes, starting with 13...b4?! led Black into a completely lost position.
Najdorf 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.h3 Nbd7 8.g4 [B90]
In the game Dotzer, L - Sarana, A the players entered a sharp theoretical position after 14...Nxe4:
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White was the first to deviate from the known paths with 15.Qe3, and it looks like a sensible idea, but already Lukas's next move was a serious mistake. GM Sarana first returned the favor, but the game eventually went his way anyways.
In general, I believe that 15.Qe3 can be tried again, since the correct 16.Bh2 seems to offer White definite compensation for a pawn.
Najdorf 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.h3 Be7 9.Qf3 [B90]
The game Sindarov, J - Bjerre, J saw Black play the rare and interesting 10...g6!?:
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securing h5 for the knight's retreat. It looks like GM Sindarov wasn't well-prepared for it, and after the somewhat risky 12.gxh5, followed by 15.Bg5?! Black got a golden opportunity to seize the initiative by sacrificing the exchange. Luckily for Javokhir, his opponent chose the wrong moment for active actions, and after 17...b4? The game quickly went White's way.
Najdorf 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qf3 Nbd7 8.0-0-0 [B95]
The last game, Tsolakidou, S - Shuvalova, P, can be considered to be an opening disaster. In the position after 9.Kb1:
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Polina chose the most ambitious 9...b5 but most likely she wasn't familiar with its consequences. In the critical opening position after 13.Qb3 Black followed the preceding games with 13...Bd5?! when it makes the position very tough to handle. It isn't surprising that the ''innovation'' 19...Nxa6? led to a quick collapse.
In general, I believe that Black has safer options at move 9.
See you next month, Michael
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