Robert Ris' Fast and Furious: 7.b3 in the Anti-Meran system

by Robert Ris
10/9/2026 – I have a look at one of the most spectacular games played at the Olympiad. In the final round game between Uzbekistan 2 and China, Black won a fantastic game in Abdisalimov-Wei Yi. White opted for the move 7.b3 in the Anti-Meran system, usually leading to calm type of play. However, Wei Yi had different ideas in mind by playing 8...e5 and 9...e4!?, investing a pawn for some control on the light-squares, and to keep the initiative going a second pawn sacrifice followed as well. In the ensuing middlegame, White struggled finding a safe place for his king. With the help of all the major pieces and presence of opposite-coloured bishops Black had been enabled to launch a powerful attack against the white king.
This video course offers you a complete, clear repertoire for Black against the moves 1.Nf3 and 1.c4. The recommended variations are easy to learn and not difficult to remember, but also pose White serious challenges.

I have a look at one of the most spectacular games played at the Olympiad. In the final round game between Uzbekistan 2 and China, Black won a fantastic game in Abdisalimov-Wei Yi. White opted for the move 7.b3 in the Anti-Meran system, usually leading to calm type of play. However, Wei Yi had different ideas in mind by playing 8...e5 and 9...e4!?, investing a pawn for some control on the light-squares, and to keep the initiative going a second pawn sacrifice followed as well. In the ensuing middlegame, White struggled finding a safe place for his king. With the help of all the major pieces and presence of opposite-coloured bishops Black had been enabled to launch a powerful attack against the white king.

Looking for a realistic way to play for a win with Black against 1.e4 without taking unnecessary risks? The Taimanov Sicilian is a reliable system, and hence one of the best options out there!

Exercise: Do you see Black's crushing idea?

Feel free to move the pieces on the live diagram!

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Topics: Fast and Furious
Robert is an International Master who mostly spends his time training and coaching talented youngsters. On the PlayChess server The Fast and the Furious is a popular show where he explains sharp opening lines for a wider audience. He is also a well-known ChessBase author who produced numerous DVDs and regularly contributes to ChessBase Magazine as well. Since 2015 he is the organizer of the Dutch Rapid Championships in his home town Amstelveen. He has started a YouTube channel with chess analysis as well.
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See also

Robert Ris' Fast and Furious: Closed Sicilian with g3

6/25/2026 – This week we'll have a look at the spectacular miniature played between two GMs at the UzChess Cup. Brandon Jacobson is known for his creative opening play, and he definitely surprised his opponent Jakhongir Vakhidov, by playing the Closed Sicilian with g2-g3. This variation used to be a very popular choice for White players avoiding loads of theory compared with the Open Variations. In this episode I'll bring an update on the latest trends in this variation and explain White's thematical ideas building up a kingside attack. Caught by surprise, the Uzbek GM failed to respond adequately and soon found himself in big trouble. White's pieces were flowing over the board and reached natural squares to contribute to the attack. An absolute modelgame for White how to play these positions as the thematical attacking ideas and sacrifices were perfectly carried out by the American GM.

See also

Robert Ris' Fast and Furious: Sicilian Alapin

6/18/2026 – For many players, the Sicilian Alapin remains a very unpleasant variation to face with Black. The game Muzychuk-Divya from the 10th round of Norway Chess is a good example what Black definitely needs to avoid. Up till move 13 the players were following a game I played myself back in 2003 (bringing back some painful memories😉) in which I got blown off the board in only 26 moves. Divya's treatment of this particular variation wasn't any better, and soon she found herself in big trouble. Muzychuk obtained a massive attack and decided to transform her advantage into an endgame with an extra exchange. In addition, I will show some extra examples by strong grandmasters to illustrate White's attacking chances in this line and recommend a few improvements as alternative ways to play with Black.
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Video

60m English New ideas in the Najdorf_E

‘New ideas in the Najdorf – a Power Play 18 Update’ aims to complement Daniel King’s popular DVD from last year ‘The Sicilian Najdorf - a repertoire for Black’. Such a dynamic and popular opening as the Najdorf is developing the whole time. On this download, Daniel King updates lines that were included on his DVD but also responds to viewers’ requests, considering lines that he omitted from his original repertoire. The lines examined on this update are: • 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 h3 e5 7 Nde2 • 5….a6 6 Bc4 in combination with the English Attack (Be3, f3 etc) • 5…a6 6 Be3 and the …a5 variation • 5…a6 6 Be2 and 9 Re1 • 5 f3 (instead of 5 Nc3) It isn’t necessary to have seen the original Najdorf DVD to understand the lines examined here – but it would help as they form part of a complete repertoire.

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