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Sicilian Defence: Kan, 5.Nc3 Qc7 (Paulsen)

Smirin–Hulak, TCh-CRO Pula 2001 · Kadric–Caruana, 43rd Olympiad 2018 · 6:08 · ECO B43

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In this video

Game 1: Ilia Smirin (2702) vs Krunoslav Hulak (2566)

TCh-CRO Pula 2001, 18 September 2001 · White won (1-0) · 41 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. 7...d6The first move after the opening line0:34
  2. 29...Bf8The evaluation moves from +1.77 to +2.94, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:16
  3. 36...Qe8The evaluation moves from +4.60 to +7.062:52
  4. 38...Be7The evaluation moves from +6.31 to +8.993:02
  5. 41.a6White wins after 41 moves3:14

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Denis Kadric (2543) vs Fabiano Caruana (2827)

43rd Olympiad 2018, 30 September 2018 · Black won (0-1) · 34 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. 7...Bc5The first move after the opening line3:47
  2. 23...dxc5The queens come off5:00
  3. 26.Rd7The evaluation moves from −0.86 to −2.85, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here5:12
  4. 30.Rc7The evaluation moves from −4.90 to −6.865:32
  5. 33.b4The evaluation moves from −7.24 to −9.255:48
  6. 34...Rxa5Black wins after 34 moves5:55

Evaluation

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

About these games

Black plays ...a6 and ...Qc7 before committing the d-pawn or the king's bishop. The queen watches e5 and the c-file, and ...a6 stops a knight from landing on b5. White develops with 6.Bd3 and 7.O-O, keeps the e4 pawn protected and often prepares f4. The game then splits on Black's next move: ...d6 gives a Scheveningen-type centre, while ...Bc5 develops the bishop actively before the d-pawn moves.

Smirin–Hulak continued 7...d6. White gained queenside space with 8.a4, then exchanged with 11.Nxc6 after 10...e5, leaving Black with doubled c-pawns. After 12.f4 Black opened the f-file and advanced the kingside pawns with ...g5 and ...h5, which loosened the king's position. White traded the light-squared bishops and brought the knight to f5. At 29...Bf8 the evaluation rose from +1.77 to +2.94. 32.Nd5+ won the exchange on f4, and 34.b4 opened the b-file. 38...Be7 took the score from +6.31 to +8.99, and White won after 41.a6.

Kadric–Caruana reached the same position by a different move order. Black chose 7...Bc5 8.Nb3 Ba7, exchanged the dark-squared bishops on e3, castled queenside and pushed the h-pawn to h3 to weaken White's king. After the queen exchange 23...dxc5, Black's rooks and bishop became active. 26.Rd7 dropped the evaluation from −0.86 to −2.85, and 26...Bxe4+ won a pawn with check. Black's rooks then reached White's second rank and took the h2 and a2 pawns, and Black won after 34...Rxa5. Where White pressed with space in the first game, here Black attacked first.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Smirin vs Hulak, TCh-CRO Pula 2001
  3. 3:23Game 2: Kadric vs Caruana, 43rd Olympiad 2018

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. O-O

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