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Sicilian Defence: Rossolimo, 3...g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.c3

Morozevich–McShane, 4NCL 2001 · Caruana–Carlsen, Tata Steel Masters 2022 · 6:54 · ECO B31

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In this video

Game 1: Alexander Morozevich (2749) vs Luke McShane (2490)

4NCL 2001, 5 May 2001 · White won (1-0) · 35 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.d4The first move after the opening line0:29
  2. 14...f6The evaluation moves from −1.62 to −0.421:02
  3. 24...e6White stays more than two pawns ahead from here1:52
  4. 25...e5The evaluation moves from +2.39 to +7.761:56
  5. 31...Kf8The evaluation moves from +8.30 to +10.002:26
  6. 35.Qg6+White wins after 35 moves2:44

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Fabiano Caruana (2792) vs Magnus Carlsen (2865)

Tata Steel Masters 2022, 29 January 2022 · Black won (0-1) · 49 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.Re1The first move after the opening line3:12
  2. 30.Bc3The evaluation moves from −0.60 to −1.865:02
  3. 31.Bxb4The queens come off5:08
  4. 37.fxe5Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here5:38
  5. 49...Bd4Black wins after 49 moves6:40

Evaluation

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

About these games

After 3.Bb5 White threatens to give up the bishop for the c6-knight and leave Black with doubled pawns, while Black's fianchetto on g7 aims at the centre and the long diagonal. With 5.c3 White prepares d4 to build a broad pawn centre, and 5...Nf6 strikes at e4 at once, so White must decide quickly how to support or sacrifice that pawn.

Morozevich–McShane, 4NCL 2001, went 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nxe4 8.d5: White gave up the e-pawn for space and a lead in development. Black regrouped with 9...a6, 10...Na7 and 13...Bb7 and stood better, around −1.62 before 14...f6 brought the score back to −0.42. White then built up with Qh3, Bb1 and f4. After 24...e6 White stayed more than two pawns ahead, and 25...e5 let the score jump from +2.39 to +7.76. White opened the g-file with 26.fxg6 and sacrificed a knight with 28.Nexf5+. The score went from +8.31 to mate in 10 after 32...Ree7, and White won after 35.Qg6+.

Caruana–Carlsen, Tata Steel Masters 2022, followed the main line 6.Re1 O-O 7.d4 d5 8.e5 Ne4. Unlike Game 1, Black hit the centre with ...d5 instead of taking on e4, and the position stayed level, 0.00 at 25...Qe2. Black then gave up the exchange with 26...Rxd4 27.Bxd4 Qxd2. After the queens came off with 31.Bxb4, the score moved from −1.43 to −2.49. Black held the bishop pair and won pawns, staying more than two pawns ahead from 37.fxe5. Black won after 49...Bd4.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Morozevich vs McShane, 4NCL 2001
  3. 2:53Game 2: Caruana vs Carlsen, Tata Steel Masters 2022

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Nf6

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