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Sicilian Defence: Taimanov, Szén Variation

Ivanchuk–Wang, FIDE Grand Prix Beijing 2013 · Maze–Bachmann, 42nd Olympiad 2016 · 6:58 · ECO B44

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In this video

Game 1: Vassily Ivanchuk (2733) vs Wang Yue (2705)

FIDE Grand Prix Beijing 2013, 9 July 2013 · White won (1-0) · 42 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...Nf6The first move after the opening line0:30
  2. 29...Rfd8The evaluation moves from +0.63 to +3.03, and White stays more than two pawns ahead from here2:16
  3. 42.Rc1White wins after 42 moves3:19

Evaluation

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

Game 2: Sebastien Maze (2617) vs Axel Bachmann (2641)

42nd Olympiad 2016, 6 September 2016 · Black won (0-1) · 43 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...a6The first move after the opening line3:49
  2. 38.Kg2The evaluation moves from −1.80 to −2.85, and Black stays more than two pawns ahead from here6:18
  3. 41...Nxg5+The evaluation moves from −2.94 to −3.466:35
  4. 43.Bd2The evaluation moves from −4.78 to −6.806:42
  5. 43...Ne4Black wins after 43 moves6:45

Evaluation

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

About these games

After 5.Nb5 d6, the white knight presses on d6. Black's ...a6 will push it back, usually to a3. With 6.c4 White clamps the d5 square and sets up a Maróczy-style bind. Black answers with a Hedgehog: pawns on a6, b6, d6 and e6, the bishop on b7, and pieces waiting behind them for the ...b5 or ...d5 break.

Ivanchuk–Wang Yue went 6...Nf6 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3, and White built up with 12.Qb3 and 13.Rac1. Black's queen roamed with 16...Qh4 and 19...Nxe4. White answered with f4, g4 and g5, and 25.fxe5 won the bishop for pawns. After 28.c5 opened the queenside, 29...Rfd8 sent the evaluation from +0.63 to +3.03. Later 35...Nd4 took it from +3.32 to +5.18, and White won after 42.Rc1.

In Maze–Bachmann, White played 12.f4 and 13.Bf3 and kept the bishop pair. Black doubled rooks on the c-file instead of chasing piece activity. The evaluation drifted Black's way, reaching −0.74 by 21.g3. Then 21...d5, the freeing break Ivanchuk never allowed, opened the centre and traded off the light-squared bishops. Black's queen and knights kept up the pressure: 38.Kg2 moved the score from −1.80 to −2.85, 43.Bd2 from −4.78 to −6.80, and Black won after 43...Ne4.

Chapters

  1. 0:00Introduction and the opening line
  2. 0:10Game 1: Ivanchuk vs Wang, FIDE Grand Prix Beijing 2013
  3. 3:28Game 2: Maze vs Bachmann, 42nd Olympiad 2016

The opening line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4

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