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Sicilian Defence: Taimanov, 6.Be3 a6 7.Bd3

Vachier-Lagrave–Kamsky, Bundesliga 2018-19 2019 · Dubov–Ding, China vs World Team 2018 · 7:48 · ECO B48

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In this video

Game 1: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2778) vs Gata Kamsky (2666)

Bundesliga 2018-19 2019, 1 March 2019 · Black won (0-1) · 44 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. 8...h5The first move after the opening line0:36
  2. 22.f5The evaluation moves from −0.12 to −1.351:39
  3. 27.Qb6Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:04
  4. 32...Rxc5The queens come off2:32
  5. 40.a6The evaluation moves from −3.34 to −5.123:09
  6. 42.Be1The evaluation moves from −4.72 to −7.573:19
  7. 44...Rd1Black wins after 44 moves3:32

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Daniil Dubov (2696) vs Ding Liren (2778)

China vs World Team 2018, 9 April 2018 · White won (1-0) · 51 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. 8...Ne5The first move after the opening line4:08
  2. 41...Kf8The evaluation moves from −2.63 to −1.076:48
  3. 43...gxf6The evaluation moves from +1.46 to +4.88, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here6:58
  4. 49...Qg2+The evaluation moves from +6.20 to +8.357:28
  5. 51.Kd2White wins after 51 moves7:35

Evaluation

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

About these games

After 5...Qc7 and 6...a6, Black keeps the pawns on a6 and e6 flexible, controls b5 and often plans ...b5 with ...Bb7, or ...Ne5 to hit the bishop on d3. White develops quickly with 7.Bd3 and 8.O-O, aiming for a kingside push with f4, then e5 or f5, against an open Sicilian structure with the half-open c-file for Black.

Vachier-Lagrave–Kamsky continued 8...h5, followed by ...b5, ...Bb7 and ...Ne5-c4 to exchange the bishop, reaching 0.00 after 13.Bxc4. White pushed 14.e5 and later f4-f5, and Black answered with ...f5, ...gxf6 and ...e5 for a broad centre, standing at −0.97 after 23.Qg3. The turning point was 25.Bd2, which moved the score from +0.60 to −1.31. Black took a pawn with 26...Rxc2, and after 27.Qb6 stayed more than two pawns ahead. 28...Rxc7 returned the exchange at −3.04, and the queens came off with 32...Rxc5. Black's passed d-pawn reached d3, 42.Be1 dropped the score from −4.72 to −7.57, and Black won after 44...Rd1.

Dubov–Ding Liren went 8...Ne5 9.h3 Bc5, with Black castling short. White replied with f4-f5 and g4 and, after 17.gxf5, doubled rooks on the g-file rather than playing in the centre as in Game 1. Black was better for long stretches, at −2.46 after 28.Nb2, and won the exchange with 30.Qxd4. After 41...Kf8 the score moved from −2.63 to −1.07, and 43.f6+ gxf6 swung it from +1.46 to +4.88. White won after 51.Kd2.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Vachier-Lagrave vs Kamsky, Bundesliga 2018-19 2019
  3. 3:40Game 2: Dubov vs Ding, China vs World Team 2018

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8. O-O

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