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Days ago, at 3rd chessboard in match CXV (Brazil) - SEMI (Italy), I was compelled to study, for the first time, the "Snyder Variation" of the Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.b3). I will not comment my game, still in course. But, it is intersting the game below, Short-Prasad, 2004. In my opinion, it show that the line 3...e5, ("arguably the toughest defence" - Gary Lane), is hardly sustainable, excepting some theoretical novelty. The hole on d5 is a too much painful problem. It seem better, for instance, the move used for Anderssen, against Kieseritzky (1851), 3...a6, also used by Topalov against the same Short (Short-Topalov, Sarajevo, 2000). Annotations by Andrew Martin and Gary Lane.
And, last, excuse me for bad English...
Short,N (2702) - Prasad,D (2395) [B20]
Commonwealth (championnat) Mumbai (5), 14.01.2004
[Andrew Martin e Gary lane]
1.e4 c5 2.b3!?
The Snyder Variation, which certainly packs a punch for the unwary. I think I am going to recommend it to you. It would really be wonderful if White could get the Bishop working against the Black kingside the whole game through. That must be the main idea (Martin).
Nigel Short has added respectability to this sideline of the Sicilian in recent years. The former world title challenger is still highly rated at 2687 and uses it as a way to avoid preparation. At international level it is easy for an opponent to have all of Short’s games on a computer, but by playing different lines against the Sicilian it will prove to be difficult to accurately predict the opening line (Lane).
2...Nc6 3.Bb2 e5
So I guess this is Black's most critical response. If Black can shut the Bb2 out of the game then he has chances himself with a well-timed ...f7-f5 or ...d6-d5! (Martin)
This is arguably the toughest defence because it blocks the a1–h8 diagonal. White will now have to concentrate on a plan such as f2-f4 to try and maximize his dark-squared bishop. It will also soon become evident that with no pawn
to cover the d5-square White will endeavor to occupy it with a piece. (Lane)
4.Bc4
[Both 4.Bb5 and 4.f4!? blend in with the main theme but I like Short's move, which is very harmonious. Black shuts down one diagonal but leaves another open. f2-f4 has not been ignored, just delayed. (Martin)]
4...Nf6
[Or 4...d6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Nf3 (this is a tame response because it makes more sense to try and open lines by preparing f2-f4) 6...Bg4 7.h3 Bh5 8.g4 Bg6 9.d3 Be7 10.Nh4 Nd4 with a level position. M.Tassopoulos-A.Panagiotopolous, Agios Kirykos 2004. (Lane)]
5.d3
[Also possible is 5.Nc3 Be7 6.d3 0-0 7.Nge2 (this is the same plan as Short employs in the main game and is surely the right way to handle the opening) 7...a6 8.a4 Rb8 9.0-0 Nh5 10.Nd5 b5? 11.axb5 axb5 12.Bxb5! (a nice little tactic which gives White the much better game) 12...Rxb5 13.Nec3 (the point is revealed because now the rook on b5 and the knight on h5 are attacked so White regains his piece) 13...Rb8 14.Qxh5 d6 15.f4 gave White a clear advantage in Y.Balashov-I.Korobov, Elista 2001.(Lane)]
5...d6 6.Nc3 Be7
[MARTIN - Black could try to neutralise White's other Bishop but as we will see the capture on c4 is very scary. In fact it helps White to keep a clamp on the centre: 6...Be6 7.Nge2! Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4! That's the way. 9...exf4 10.Nxf4 Bxc4 11.bxc4 Nd7 12.Ncd5 Nde5 13.Nh5 I think Nigel may have got his idea from this game. White has a definite edge here and attacking chances! 13...Re8 14.Qe1 Bh4 15.Qe2 Re6 16.Nhf4 Rh6 17.Ne3 Bg5 18.g3 Rf6 19.Nf5 Qd7 (Se 19...Bxf4 20.gxf4! Rg6+ 21.Kh1 Nd7 22.Rg1 with initiative. I think what I like is that the ideas are simple to understand and very effective. Black is being denied his traditional Sicilian counterplay and forced to engage in a protracted defence of his King.) 20.Qh5 Bh6 21.Nd5 Crushing Knights! 21...Re6 22.Nxh6+ Rxh6 23.Qxh6 gxh6 24.Nf6+ Kf8 25.Nxd7+ Nxd7 26.Rf5 Rd8 27.Rh5 Nb4 28.Rxh6 Nxc2 29.Rf1 Ne3 30.Rf3 Ng4 31.Rxd6 Ke7 32.Rd5 1-0 Bellini,F-Ronchetti,N/46th It, Reggio Emilia ITA 2003. A very strong and convincing performance by White. Note that once Black took on c4, he bared the d5 and f5 squares of which White made capital use.;
LANE - And now: a) 6...Be6 7.Nge2 Be7 (if 7...Bxc4 then 8.dxc4 is to White's advantage because he can easily plant a knight on d5 or campaign against the backward d6-pawn. Although Black might well install a knight on d4 the difference is that it can be ousted with c2-c3.) 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4 exf4 10.Nxf4 Bxc4 11.bxc4 (11.dxc4 is also good although White is wary of not supporting his epawn.) 11...Nd7 12.Ncd5 Nde5 13.Nh5 with an edge because White can transfer his queen to the kingside to aid the attack, F.Bellini-N.Ronchetti, Reggio Emilia 2003.; b) 6...Nd4 7.a4 Be7 8.Nge2 (once again White prepares to instigate kingside action with the pawn break f2-f4) 8...0-0 9.0-0 Bg4 10.f3 Be6 (10...Bh5 is also possible but then it neglects the control of the d5-square which White is keen to occupy.) 11.f4 exf4 12.Nxf4 Bg4 13.Qd2 Nh5 14.Nxh5 Bxh5 15.Nd5 Bg5 16.Qf2 gave White superior attacking chances thanks to his well placed pieces, A.Krayz-E.Karasik, Ramat Aviv 2004.]
7.Nge2
White develops the knight on e2 to allow the possibility of breaking out on the kingside with f2-f4. (Lane)
7...0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.a4
Continuing to clamp down on Black's freeing pawn breaks. Meanwhile, f2-f4 looms. (Martin)
Short takes time to contain Black's activity on the queenside by curtailing ...b7-b5. (Lane).
9...Nd4
[Alternatively, 9...Nb4 has the merit of trying to exploit the advance of the a-pawn by installing a knight on a relatively safe square and intending ...Be6 hoping for ...d6-d5. (Lane)]
10.h3
[MARTIN - It seems that 10.f4 might have been played immediately. Perhaps Short was afraid of 10...Bg4 with some compensation for Black after a sequence such as 11.h3 Bxe2 12.Nxe2 d5 13.fxe5 Nxe4 14.Nxd4 cxd4 15.dxe4 dxc4 16.Bxd4 Rc8 but 17.c3! should give White a large advantage. The text, 10.h3 is typical Nigel. He wants to completely dominate the game.;
LANE - This is another safe move, which is designed to maintain the tension. If 10.f4 then 10...Bg4 offers equality because Black can exchange pieces on e2.]
10...Be6 11.f4 Nd7!?
Prasad prepares for the advance of the f-pawn by preparing to ease his congestion with ...Bg5. (Lane)
[I think 11...Qc7! is a high-class waiting move because 12.f5 allows the surprising 12...d5! when 13.fxe6 (13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Bxd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Qd7 16.Nxd4 cxd4 17.Qf3 Rac8 18.Rf2 Rfd8 is slightly better for Black.) 13...dxc4 14.exf7+ Rxf7 15.bxc4 offers roughly equal chances. (Lane)]
12.f5 Bxc4 13.dxc4 Bg5 14.Nd5
Short's star piece in the game is the dominating central knight. (Lane)
14...Nf6
[MARTIN - 14...Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2 Nf6 16.Rad1 is pretty horrible for Black.;
LANE - Instead 14...Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2 Nf6 has the merit of depriving Short of the powerful influence of the knight on d5 but 16.Rad1 Nxd5 17.Rxd5 just gives White an excellent game because he has long term pressure against the weak, backward d-pawn.]
15.Nec3 Kh8 16.Nxf6 Qxf6 17.Nd5
Once again the theme of a strong knight is an indication of Short's positional strength because it is dictating the game. (Lane)
17...Qh6 18.Kh2
White's advantage is big for many reasons:
1) he has a better bishop;
2) the pawn f5 gives him kingside space and considerable chances of attack;
3) the knight on d5 cannot be ejected, whereas Black's knight can be sent packing with the simple c2-c3.
Nigel is in his element - Black must grovel. (Martin)
18...g6?! 19.c3 Nc6 20.f6!
Now it really is bad. The pawn on d6 is a goner long-term and Black just has no flexibility. The next stage of the game sees Nigel increasing control. (Martin)
The black bishop is effectively locked out of the game while the queen is also reduced to a limited role of avoiding being captured! (Lane)
20...Qh5 21.Rf3!
It is tempting to exchange queens but Short is wise enough to know that the timing is not quite right. The key to winning such positions is to condemn the black bishop and queen to a life as spectators on the kingside, and then concentrate on the queenside. (Lane)
21...Rae8 22.g3 Re6 23.Kg2 Rc8 24.a5!
Now White will turn his attention to the queenside as a classic way to exploit the marooned black queen. (Lane)
24...Nb8 25.Qd3 Nd7
No matter how many times he attacks the pawn, White can defend. (Martin)
26.Raf1
This simply defends the f-pawn before he will seek to infiltrate Black's position. (Lane)
26...Bh6 27.b4 Bg5 28.Ba3 Bh6 29.R3f2 Bg5 30.bxc5 Nxc5 31.Bxc5 dxc5
[MARTIN - 31...Rxc5 32.Qb1! allows the white queen to decisively enter the game. 32...Re8 (32...Rxc4 33.Qxb7 Re8 34.Qxf7 Rg8 35.Ne7+-) 33.Qxb7 Rf8 34.Qxa6+-;
LANE - If 31...Rxc5 then 32.Qb1 targets the b7-pawn and Black's position collapses. The key is the powerful knight on d5, which dominates play.]
32.h4
Prepared by 23 Kg2. (Martin)
32...Bh6 33.Qe2!
Very good! Compare the pieces and you can see that the queen exchange is a very bad deal for Prasad. In the endgame the incarceration of the Black King is the most notable feature. (Martin)
Finally, Short decides it is time to exchange queens to make sure that there are no tricks available. (Lane)
33...Qxe2 34.Rxe2 g5 35.Kh3 gxh4 36.Kxh4 Rg8 37.Rf5 Rd8 38.Rb2 Rd7 39.Rf1 Re8 40.Rfb1
Child's play. (Martin)
40...Rb8 41.Rb6
1-0
The threat is Rxa6 and Black sensibly gave up. (Lane)
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Interesting article with wariaton not often seen..Notes of course very good.
I remember I played this only once as white at my over board career 1979 against champ of my town.
Thanks for this csp... 
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Yes very interesting article, I enjoyed it very much, and included it in my Data base might use it in future games for white! And will study further to see if black could work a draw, in any case very good info, you’re truly a high master in my book! Your also giving me very hard games too, in the beging I thought I had strong position in Black, now not so sure....
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Thanks, dear friends. I tried to translate into English my analysis of the game Short-Topalov, cited above. I have many doubts, many things are unclears, but, so far, I have the impression that this line is more promising for the Black that to another one.
Short,N (2683) - Topalov,V (2702) [B20]
Bosna SuperGM Sarajevo (1), 17.05.2000
[Carlos]
1.e4 c5 2.b3 Nc6 3.Bb2 a6 4.f4
The main alternative is 4.Nf3 d6 (4...e6) 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 (Vukovic-Dorfman, Cetinje, 1991, 0-1.).
Moreover, it was played 4.Nc3 e6 (Velickovic-Zygouris, Katerini, 1993, 1-0) and 4.g3 e6 (Sivanandan-Sidorova, Chennai, 2004, 1/2-1/2).
4...e6
Main line, aim the breaking on d5.
It seem interesting the direct breaking 4...d5 5.exd5 (5.e5?! is in Black favour in the center struggle: Balandin-Wojtkiewicz, North Bay, 1996, 0-1) 5...Qxd5 6.Nc3 Qd6 (Feoktistov-Kovalev, Minsk, 2000, 1/2-1/2).
4...d6 it seem passive too much (Spassky-Hebert, Buenos Aires, 1978, 1-0).
5.Nf3
Previously, this move arose in two correspondence games (Reichenbacher-Helmhagen, 1986, 1-0 e Lemaire-Valenti, 1991, 0-1), and, besides, in Boskovic-Stankovic, Belgrade, 1993, 1-0).
The alternative 5.d3 is bad, give way in the center.
5...Nf6 6.d3
See Boskovic-Stankovic, Belgrade, 1993, 1-0.
More usual is 6.e5 Nd5 7.g3.
Other line is 6.Qe2 (Todorov-De Labaca, Grenoble, 2003, 1/2-1/2).
6...d5!
Topalov breaking on d5, a sicilian key move.
7.Nbd2 Be7 8.g3
8.Ne5 need more analysis.
8...0-0 9.e5?!
White overlook the weakness on e3. Better is 9.Bh3, prevening the black knight on g4.
9...Nd7?!
Black don't use the White weakness to advantage. Better is 9...Ng4! (threating ...Ne3), forcing 10.Qe2 to protect e3, but Black would play 10...Nb4, threating other weak square, c2, with positional superiority.
10.Bg2 b5 11.0-0 c4!
Black open, for the bishop, the diagonal (a7-g1), where it is the weak square e3.
12.Kh1 cxd3 13.cxd3 a5 14.Qe2 a4 15.Rfc1?!
White overlook the problem: the a7-g1 open diagonal. Better, in this case, was 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bb7, seizing the diagonal and defending e3.
15...Qb6
Black seize, with queen, the diagonal, at the same time defending knight on c6, pressing white castle and progressively take the central control.
16.a3 b4
I prefer 16...axb3 17.Nxb3 Bb7 18.d4, but it seem to be a style's question.
17.axb4 Ba6!
The last black piece is developed with increase of the pressure at center.
18.bxa4 Nxb4 19.Bd4 Bc5?!
Inaccurate. Afterward, Black Queen, until now a mere bodyguard on e3, can enter fully in the game. Better was 19...Bxd3 20.Bxb6 Bxe2 21.Be3.
20.Qe3 Nxd3 21.Rcb1?!
It waste the small advantage get after 19...Bc5. Better, under initiative's point of view, was 21.Rc3 Bxd4 22.Qxd4 N3c5 23.a5.
21...Qc7 22.Bf1 Bxd4 23.Nxd4 N3c5 24.Bb5! g6?!
This prophylatic move prevent f5, but overlooked the struggle on queen's wing. Better was 24...Rfc8.
25.a5?
A positional mistake. Better was 25.Bc6 Rac8 26.g4 Bb7 27.Bb5 f6 28.Bxd7 Qxd7 29.N2f3.
25...Rfb8 26.Bxd7 Rxb1+ 27.Rxb1 Qxd7 28.Kg1 Rc8 29.Rc1 Nd3 30.Rxc8+ Qxc8 31.N2f3??
A blunder. 31.N2b3! leads, most likely, to draw, following: 31...Qc3 32.Qd2 Qc4.
31...Qc3 32.h4 Qa1+ 33.Kh2 Qxa5 34.h5 Qa2+ 35.Kh3 Qb1 36.Qg1 Qb2 37.Kh4
Better 37.hxg6 hxg6 38.Qg2 Qc1, but White is playing a losing game...
37...Nc5 38.hxg6 hxg6 39.Qh2 Qa1 40.Kg4 Ne4 41.Qg1 Qb2 42.Qh2 Qc1 43.Qg1 Bf1 44.Kh4 Qd1 45.g4 Kh8 46.Qh2 Qc1 47.g5 Kg8 48.Kg4 Bd3 49.Qg1 Qb2 50.Qh2 Qa3 51.Kh4 Nc5 52.Qg1 Be4 53.Nh2 Bf5 54.Nxf5 exf5 55.Qg2 Ne4 56.Qf3 Qc1 57.Nf1 d4 58.Kh3 d3 59.e6 fxe6 60.Ng3 Qe1 61.Nxe4 fxe4 62.Qg2 Qe2 0-1
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this is too advance for me... too complicated but I like the way it was explained in here.
Thanks for sharing. 
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