Robert Ris’ Fast and Furious: The double-edged Nimzowitsch Sicilian

by Robert Ris
7/27/2023 – In his Fast & Furious show, Robert Ris looks at 2...Nf6 in the Sicilian, the Nimzowitsch Variation. By analysing games played by Aleksandr Rakhmanov, we learn about Black’s objectives — and how things could easily go wrong for White as well! | Fast & Furious is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.
In this video course, twenty-nine examples with multiple questions are presented in the interactive format, which is ideal for a range of playing strengths. Step by step you will be taken through the complex positions.

I have a look at the Nimzowitsch Variation of the Sicilian (2...Nf6), which was tested in a recent game between Fabiano Caruana and Aleksandr Rakhmanov. The Russian player is an absolute specialist of this system, which doesn’t have a great reputation since Black usually ends up in a somewhat cramped position.

However, by analysing a few of his games, we learn about Black’s objectives and how things could easily go wrong for White as well. This time, however, he horribly blundered and Caruana immediately punished him. Can you see how?

F. Caruana - A. Rakhmanov, Julius Baer Generation Cup Play-In 2023
White to play

Feel free to move the pieces on the live diagram!

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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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