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Sicilian Defence: Kalashnikov Variation

Akopian–Radjabov, FIDE Grand Prix Astrakhan 2010 · Svidler–Andreikin, FIDE Candidates 2014 · 5:48 · ECO B32

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In this video

Game 1: Vladimir Akopian (2694) vs Teimour Radjabov (2740)

FIDE Grand Prix Astrakhan 2010, 21 May 2010 · Black won (0-1) · 40 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 6...Be7The first move after the opening line0:30
  2. 24...Rxf7The queens come off1:52
  3. 32.h3The evaluation moves from −1.66 to −3.93, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:29
  4. 40...Rxh3Black wins after 40 moves3:12

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

Game 2: Peter Svidler (2758) vs Dmitry Andreikin (2709)

FIDE Candidates 2014, 14 March 2014 · White won (1-0) · 31 moves

Click a move to jump the video to it. Dotted moves are the opening line the video is about.

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Key moments

  1. 6...Be7The first move after the opening line3:42
  2. 19.hxg3The queens come off4:35
  3. 22...Bd3The evaluation moves from +0.39 to +2.414:52
  4. 28.Rcc1The evaluation moves from +3.80 to +1.965:20
  5. 30.Rxd2White stays more than two pawns ahead from here5:30
  6. 30...Rc3The evaluation moves from +2.23 to +4.625:32
  7. 31.Rd5White wins after 31 moves5:35

Evaluation

Above the line, White is better; below it, Black. Scores are in pawns, capped at five either way.

About these games

Black's 4...e5 gains time against the centralised knight and accepts a backward d-pawn and a hole on d5, relying on quick development and the dark-squared bishop's activity. With 6.c4 White sets up a Maroczy-style bind: the pawns on e4 and c4 restrain Black, the b5-knight usually reroutes via a3 and c2, and the d5 square becomes the main target.

Akopian–Radjabov: after 8.Na3, Black struck at once with 8...f5, and 9.exf5 Bxf5 gave Black free piece play. White took on f6 with 14.Bxf6 and put knights on d5, but Black's bishop pair and kingside pawns stood well, and the score had drifted to −0.98 by 21.Ne2. The push 21...e4 was a slip that moved the evaluation to +0.38, yet after the queens came off with 24...Rxf7 Black's rooks grew active again. The turning point was 32.h3, which let 32...Rxf4 win a pawn and took the score from −1.66 to −3.93. Black exchanged into a won ending, reached −5.16 by 36.Nh1, and Black won after 40...Rxh3.

Svidler–Andreikin: here Black chose 8...Be6 and the typical 9...Bg5, trading off the bad bishop with 10...Bxc1, instead of breaking with ...f5. White kept control of d5 with 16.Nd5, and the queens came off with 19.hxg3. After 22...Bd3 the evaluation jumped from +0.39 to +2.41, and a sharp tactical sequence followed in which both sides pushed passed pawns towards promotion. White emerged with a winning rook ending, reached +4.82 by 31.Rd5, and White won.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Akopian vs Radjabov, FIDE Grand Prix Astrakhan 2010
  3. 3:20Game 2: Svidler vs Andreikin, FIDE Candidates 2014

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4

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