2. a4 in the Sicilian defense – by GM Kasimdzhanov and GM Pechac

The Myers attack in the Sicilian defense starts with 1.e4 c5 2.a4. This 2.a4 move in the Sicilian was one of the main topics in rounds 1 and two of the SchachBundesliga 2024 – 2025

In the Saturday match Baden Baden vs FC Bayern München, GM Kasimdzhanov unleashed 2.a4 against Amin Tabatabaei. While Tabatabaei managed to get good hold of the position with black, he underestimated the knight jump to h5 and could not hold the kingside attack. With this GM Kasimdzhanov is at the doors of the 2700 club, while Tabatabaei is officially out of it.

In round 2, in the match USV TU Dresden vs FC St. Pauli, the Czech Grandmaster Jergus Pechac also opted for 2.a4 in the Sicilian against IM Aljoscha Feuerstack. With 6.e5 and again aggressive play on the kingside, Pechac won the game after early middlegame blunder by the opponent.

More about GM Pechac: Jergus Pechac is the winner of Slovakia Chess Open / GM Jergus Pechac is the recipient of the Gligoric Trophy 2021 / Fair play at its best #TweetOftheDay