Rustam Kasimdzhanov: Sicilian

1.e4 c5 2.a4

Rustam Kasimdzhanov recently caused a stir in the Bundesliga in his game against Mohammad Amin Tabatabaei: After 1.e4 c5 he continued with 2.a4! One of the things Kasimdzhanov wants to make clear in his contribution to this issue of CBM is that this move was not a joke or an expression of disrespect for his opponent. “This move actually has a serious positional idea.” In his video, he explains how he came across this new idea and what it actually involves. In White's “dream scenario” he plays f2-f4 (without having to fear d7-d5), his bishop is placed on b5 and protected by the a4-pawn and after 0-0 he can start the attack!

Daniel King: Petroff

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4

In the Russian Defense, after 3.Nxe5 you don't normally continue with 3...Nxe4. Because after 4.Qe2 Black either loses the queen immediately with 4...d5 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nc6+ or is a pawn down after 4...Qe7 5.Qxe4 d6 6.d4 dxe5 7.dxe5. And yet Wesley So recently played exactly like this against Hans Moke Niemann in the 2024 US Championship! For Daniel King, a lifelong 1.e4 player, this was quite a shock. In his analysis, he examines the super GM's unorthodox pawn sacrifice. Should White try to hold on to the extra pawn? King's conclusion: Niemann's return of the pawn (7...Nc6 8.Nc3 with only a slight advantage for White) is the best choice!

Robert Ris: Spanish Delayed Exchange Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Re1

Ian Nepomniachtchi tried this line against Ding Liren in the 2023 World Championship match. The game ended in a draw, but the line has been played repeatedly at the highest level since then, including again by the Russian against his compatriot Artemiev in September 2024. With 7.Re1 White attacks the black pawn on e5. Black has the choice between various options: 7...Nd7, 7...Bg4, 7...Qd6 and 7...Bd6. Robert Ris goes through them in his analysis and discovers a lot of potential, which is why he recommends 7.Re1 at least as a surprise weapon!