Positional play in the Prins Variation of the Sicilian ⎸Road to GM

April 22, 2018 NHaselton Uncategorized

Hanging PawnsSun, April 22, 2018 2:43pmURL:
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I managed to surprise my opponent with the fighting Prins Sicilian, which is often something players with black lack knowledge on.

Tomic vs Sculac, Sicilian Defense, B54, Prins Variation
5th Cro. League, Round 4, 04/22/18

I played the rd. 4 game of the Croatian 5th League. I was on board three against a slightly higher rated opponent. He went for the Sicilian Defense, but after Nf6, attacking e4, I played f3, the Prins Variation which he wasn’t prepared for. That move looks weakening and like a waste of time, but if black doesn’t react immediately white will have a positional advantage.

My opponent played a6, entering normal Najdorf positions with black, but that allowed me to play c4 and create a Maroczy bind with pawns on e4 and c4. This setup prevents black from pushing d5 any time soon, and gives white a comfortable middlegame. It was a very complicated game and we both made mistakes, but he missed a move in which he could have gained an advantage which got me a winning position.

*The Prins Variation occurs after the moves:
1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 d6
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.f3 – entering the variation. From here black should continue with e5, pushing the knight to b3, and then play d5, opening up the center immediately. My opponent played a6 which gives white too much play after 6.c4.

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