ForumPosition SearchText SearchMy ProfileRepertoireSite InfoGuests InfoHelpLinks
Our three variations today are quite uncommon. 3.Nge2 and 4.h3 is another option to avoid theory and obtain an exciting position - though, as always, it’s objectively less strong than the main lines. We’ll analyse four games in this section, so plenty of inspiration available!
Rakhmanov will then show us a dubious but interesting line in the Sicilian 2..Nf6 variation, and I’ll show you how to react. As we’ll see, White can go wrong quite easily.
Finally, one of the stranger 7th moves I’ve seen in a while in the Moscow variation. While 7..f6 looks odd, it is actually a solid option for Black in the this line, but Firouzja does have that ability to make everything look good...

Download PGN of October ’25 Anti-Sicilian games

>> Previous Update >>


Chameleon Sicilian 3.Nge2: 2.Nc3 d6 3.Nge2 Nf6 4.h3!? [B23]

A new approach if you’re bored of theory! White plans to continue with a rapid 5.g4 and throw Black off with this off-beat variation.

All our games continued 4...Nc6 5.g4:

Black has a few logical ways to respond and we’ll look at most of them.

First, 5...g6 was seen in Dardha, D - Areshchenko, A. Black played very logically and achieved a good position, but I believe White missed an opportunity early on.

Next we’ll explore 5...d5, a reasonable attempt to punish White for the outlandish opening. This was played in both Naiditsch, A - Zhigalko, A, which was very messy, and Motylev, A - Magold, F, which was a little more controlled from White!

Finally, Kovalenko, I - Perez, M saw 5...e5. Not bad either, but Black quickly went wrong by developing the bishop to e7, rather than following up with ..g6 and ..Bg7.



Nimzovitch Variation 2..Nf6: 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 Nxc3 [B29]

Back to familiarity with this previously analysed line. This time however, we’ll focus on a variation favoured by Duda and Rakhmanov which continues 5.dxc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 Qb6!?:

Don’t try this at home! Black is already in trouble, but how does White react? While the engine proposes 7.Bd3 followed by a rapid castles, our humans had other ideas.

White gave the pawn with 7.Qd2? in Paravyan, D - Rakhmanov, A, which gives back most of the advantage immediately. Black’s play was direct and impressive, though he ultimately fell at the last hurdle.

Niemann was along the right line after 7.b3 e6 8.Bd3. The position was complex and Black did quite well before White found a deadly tactic. One takeaway for me would be to remember to put the queen on e2 in order to leave the d2-square for the knight. See Niemann, H - Rakhmanov, A.



Moscow variation 3..Nd7: 4.d4, 5.Qxd4 and 7.f6!? [B51]

I’m learning a lot this month... the position after 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Bxd7 Bxd7 7.Bg5 f6!? is completely new to me:

This bizarre move goes against everything we’re taught from a young age, but is somehow not as bad as it looks. While 7..h6 is more principled (recommended by Giri), the text move still deserves attention.

Things started off well for Black in Terry, R - Movahed, S, until they stumbled with a poorly judged exchange with 13...Ne5?.

Firouzja, on the other hand, likes to keep things short and sweet. His opponent quickly crumbled after naively capturing the d6-pawn in Antunez, S - Firouzja, A.



Till next time, Ezra

>> 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.