Play the Rossolimo – Top-Level Repertoire for White – Part 2

So far, the anti-Sicilian repertoire of Roiz consists of 4 databases:

✅Moscow Variation – Top-Level Repertoire for White – Part 1

✅Moscow Variation – Top-Level Repertoire for White – Part 2

✅Play the Rossolimo – Top-Level Repertoire for White – Part 1

✅Play the Rossolimo – Top-Level Repertoire for White – Part 2 (the current one)

Chapters 1-4 are dedicated to the position arising after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Ne7 6.Nbd2

This flexible continuation has become especially popular in recent years. White keeps in mind 2 traditional ideas: pushing the h-pawn and gaining space in the center with e4-e5. Black is now invited to show his cards. As you will see from the analysis, in all the lines, White manages to put his opponent under a positional pressure.

The following three chapters are dedicated to 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Qc7 6.0-0

The move 5…Qc7 is equally common as 5…Ne7 nowadays. Black declares his intention to stabilize the centre with …e6-e5. White has tried many other moves, but castling looks the most promising because White’s lead in development is more significant now. We are ready to answer the advance …e6-e5 with Nh4 followed by f2-f4. The three chapters dedicated to this position cover 6…e5, 6…Ne7, and minor options. In all cases, White can fight for an advantage.

Chapters 8-10 deal with the line 3…Nf6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3

The line with 3…Nf6 became very popular recently. It’s not a surprise that Caruana used it at the Candidates. In this position, Black’s top choice 5…Bg4 should be met by 6.h3 Bh5 7.Qe2 A flexible move – The queen’s placement may potentially make e4-e5 work.Also, it allows White to connect his rooks faster in the long run.

Another very serious option is 5…Qc7. A flexible move that was recently successfully employed by GM Caruana in the Candidates event. Black is aiming to stabilize the centre with …e7-e5. In this case, Roiz goes for a setup based on 6.Nbd2 e5 7.b3. This is practically unexplored move. Black should now reckon with the pressure on e5. In this line, White can definitely ask some questions.

All Black’s minor options in the diagram position are covered in Chapter 10.

Chapters 11-13 feature 3…e5 4.0-0

This line also became quite popular recently. Black has two main choices at this point – 4…Nge7 and 4…Bd6. In both cases, our main idea is to organize the advance d2-d4. In case of 4…Nge7, we should prepare the central advance by means of c2-c3. If Black plays 4…Bd6, however, the unprotected position of the bishop presents us with the opportunity to go for the immediate d2-d4. In both cases, White can create practical problems for his opponent.

Chapter 14 examines 3…Na5.

This move is quite artificial: Black moves his knight twice in a row, diminishing his control of d4. Surprisingly, it was played by strong players and was tested in hundreds of games. White’s most natural continuation is 4.c3.

As usual, White is aiming to take the upper hand in centre with d2-d4. Black is invited to show his cards. In all the lines, White keeps an edge.

The move 3…Qc7 is the subject of Chapter 15.

This move was played in over 1500 games. Among the strong players on Black’s side are Harikrishna,Dreev,Akopian, and others. Its main point is maintaining the flexible pawn structure by recapturing with a queen in the case of Bxc6. On the downside, White’s lead in development is more significant than in other Rossolimo lines. We will start with 4.0-0. We take on c6 only when Black wastes time on …a7-a6.

In Chapter 16, Roiz covers 3…Qb6.

Black attacks the bishop and makes ..Qxc6 possible in case of Bxc6. This is a risky approach, as Black’s development is delayed. This time, White continues with 4.Nc3. Very often, the black queen turns out to be misplaced on b6.

In the final Chapter 17, you will find all the rare options that Black has at his disposal. As a rule, we are doing fine, but we need at least a minimal knowledge.