Dmitry Svetushkin - The Ultimate Anti-Grunfeld - A Saemisch Repertoire - Chess Stars (2013) PDF
Dmitry Svetushkin - The Ultimate Anti-Grunfeld - A Saemisch Repertoire - Chess Stars (2013) PDF
Chess Stars
www.chess-stars.com
Printed in Bulgaria
ISBN: 978-954-8782-94-4
Contents
Foreword 5
Introduction 6
Part 1. Anti-Grnfeld I
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5 10
Part 2. Anti-Grnfeld II
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Nc6, rare lines 64
Part 3. Benoni/Volga Deviations
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 c5 4.d5 86
Part 4. Kings Indian with ...c5
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Be3 c5 110
Part 5. The Panno Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Be3 Nc6 146
Part 6. Main Line Panno Variation
3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Be3 Nc6 7.Nge2 a6 8.Qd2 Rb8 166
Part 7. Extended Black Fianchetto
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 c6 6.Be3 a6 184
Part 8. The Classical Main Line
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2 202
Part 9. Alternative Move Orders
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Ne2 226
Index of Variations
231
Part 1
Bibliography
Books
Understanding the Kings Indian, M. Golubev, Gambit 2006
The Kings Indian, Victor Bologan, Chess Stars 2009
Playing 1.d4 - The Indian Defences, Lars Schandorff, Quality Chess 2012
Chess Evolution - January 2012, Arkadij Naiditsch, Chess Evolution 2012
Electronic/Periodicals
Mega Database, Chess Base
Chess Informant, Sahovsky Informator
New in Chess Yearbook, Interchess
Chess Today
Internet resources
The Week In Chess (chesscenter.com)
10 Days (Chessmix.com)
Internet Chess Club (chessclub.com)
ChessPublishing.com forum
Chesspro.ru
Introduction
Foreword
Introduction
Introduction
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XIIIIIIIIY
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Introduction
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Introduction
Part 1
Anti-Grnfeld I
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5
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Part 1
Part 1
Main Ideas
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5
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16.g4!
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9...Qd6!
All Blacks hopes for equality are
connected with this move. Let me
briefly mention the old lines:
a) 9...e5 10.d5 Nd4 11.f4 c5
12.fxe5 Bg4 13.Re1 Bxe5 14.h3
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9-+r+-trk+0
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11
Part 1
Whites bishop pair, pointed at
the enemys king, is in full control.
This scenario is possible in various
settings.
b) 9...f5 10.e5!
A modern treatment of this line.
White postpones the race of the hpawn in favour of piece development. Practical experience suggests
that if White is careful enough to
protect his centre, Black is doomed
to struggle in a passive position.
But do not play f4!. This would be
a strategic mistake as White will no
longer have the options of Bh6 or
Bg5. Also the kings knight is much
stronger on f4 than on f3.
10...Nb4 (10...a5 11.h4! Nb4
12.h5 Be6 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.Bh6)
11.Nh3
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9-sn-+-+p+0
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9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
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XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zppzpqzp-vlp0
9-sn-+l+p+0
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9-sn-zP-sN-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
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9+K+R+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
13...Nc4 14.Qe1!;
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17.Qc1!.
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9-+-+q+p+0
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XIIIIIIIIY
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9psn-+-+p+0
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9-+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9+KwQR+LsNR0
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XIIIIIIIIY
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9+p+-+p+p0
9pzp-+p+pvl0
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13
Part 1
18...exd5! 19.g5 Bxg5 20.fxg5 d4
21.Nd5 Rxd5 22.exd5 Bf5+ 23.Ka1
Rc8 24.Qf4 d3 25.Bf3 Nc4 26.Nh3
Ne3. The threat of ...Nc2+ compensates for a whole rook.
You see that leaving Blacks
g7-bishop without an opponent is
risky, to say the least. White should
take on b6 only if he gets immediate, very substantial benefits. Here
is yet another example where the
raging black bishops neutralise a
whole rook:
Analysis
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9p+-+-+p+0
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9mK-+R+L+R0
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XIIIIIIIIY
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9+pzp-zppvlp0
9-sn-+-+p+0
9+p+P+-+P0
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9+-+-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+P+0
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xiiiiiiiiy
14
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ltr-+k+0
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16...Nxb2!?
17.Bxb6
Nxd1
18.Nxd1 e6 19.Bxd8 (19.Qc7!=) 19...
Qxd8 20.Bc4 Bd7 21.dxe6 (21.Ne2
Rc8 22.Bb3 Rxc1+) 21...fxe6 22.Qe3
Qc7; 19.Nc3 exd5 20.Bxd8 (20.
Nxd5 Qxd5!!) 20...Qxd8 21.Nxd5
Be6.
Analysis
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a) 13...Na5 14.Qc1!?N
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9sn-+P+-+-0
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Bxd4
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b) 13...Ne5 14.Bd4 c5
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XIIIIIIIIY
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Part 1
be developing with Bd3, Nge2,
avoiding to open files, for instance:
14...Na7 15.Bd3! e6 16.Bg5 Rd6
17.Bf4 Rd7
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16
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Part 1
Step by Step
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4...Nxd5
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9.h4
Part 1
5.e4 Nb6
5...Nf6?! does not make any
sense as Black is left without
counterplay. It is true that his
kingside is better protected, but he
has little to oppose to quiet plans
with short castling: 6.Nc3 Bg7
7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2
It is indicative that after 8.Bd3!?
Nc6 9.Nge2 the engines advocate
the reverse manoeuvre 9...Nd7
10.0-0 Nb6!
8...Nbd7 9.Nh3.
6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0-0
The text gives White time to
complete development and castle
long. Therefore,
7...Nc6 is a logical attempt to immediately define the centre. Then
8.d5 Ne5 9.f4! Ng4 12.Bb5+! gives
White a small edge in a safe position. I analyse this approach in detail in Game 1 Svetushkin-Puntier,
Istanbul 2012.
White may prefer to keep the
centre flexible by:
8.Bb5
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8...0-0
18
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XIIIIIIIIY
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A. 8...e5; B. 8...Nc6
A. 8...e5 9.d5 c6
9...f5 only weakens the a2-g8
diagonal and the f5-pawn, without
generating real counterplay: 10.000 f4 (10...fxe4 11.fxe4) 11.Bc5 Re8
12.Kb1 N8d7 13.Bf2 c6 14.g3.
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10.Rd1!?
Part 1
attack see Game 3 IvanchukAkesson, Antalya 2004. However,
10...cxd5 11.exd5 N8d7 12.h5 Nf6
13.hxg6 fxg6 14.000 Bd7 has
been analysed up to a draw. See a
detailed analysis of this line in the
annotations to Game 4 GrischukDominguez, Thessaloniki 2013.
Youll notice that Blacks attack on
the c-file is very powerful.
It would be logical to keep this
file closed with:
10.d6
Then mundane development
is contra-indicated to Black as
Whites attack is unfolding very
quickly: 10...Be6?! 11.0-0-0! Nc8
(This is an attempt to win the d6pawn. 11...f5 12.exf5 gxf5 13.Nh3
or 12.Bg5!? Bf6 13.Bh6 Bg7 14.h4
is clearly better for White.) 12.h4!
Qa5 13.h5 Rd8 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.g4
with a tremendous attack. A sterner
test of 10.d6 is the direct attack on
the pawn with:
10...Re8!
XIIIIIIIIY
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9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-snpzP-+p+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
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XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqrsnk+0
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9+-+-zp-+-0
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XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-+-mk0
9zpp+-+-vlp0
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XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnnwqrvlk+0
9zpp+-+-+p0
9-+pzPlzpp+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-zP0
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9PzP-wQ-+P+0
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Part 1
XIIIIIIIIY
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11...Na6
14.Bxc4
Qxh4+
15.Nf2 Qxc4
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16.g4!
XIIIIIIIIY
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9n+-wq-+p+0
9+-+Pzp-+P0
9-+-+-zp-+0
9+PsNNvLP+-0
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9+-+RmK-+R0
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XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-zppvlp0
9-snn+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9+-mKR+LsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+-+p+p0
9-sn-+-+p+0
9+-zpPvl-+-0
9-+-snP+l+0
9+-sN-vL-+P0
9PzP-wQ-+P+0
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14...Qh4
Part 1
22...Na4 23.Nxa4 Bxa4 24.Qa5 c4
25.Bf1 Bd7 26.d6 Bxd6 27.Rxh5+.
b) 16...Na4 17.Nxa4 Bxa4
18.Kb1 (18.f4 Bc7 19.Qf2) 18...Rc8
19.f4 Bg7 20.Rc1 b6 21.h4, PostnyAtakisi, Litohoto 1999.
c) 16...f5 17.Bg5 Qc7 18.f4 Bxc3
19.Qxc3 fxe4 20.Rxe4 Rf7 21.Re5
c4, Postny-Mekhitarian, Barcelona
2008, 22.h4 with attack.
d) 16...Re8 17.h4 Rc8 18.h5 Qf6
19.hxg6 fxg6 20.Be2 Rf8 21.Ref1
Rce8 22.Bg5 Qxg5 23.Qxg5 Bf4+
24.Qxf4 Rxf4 25.Rh6 and Black
cannot hold too long the blockade
on the dark squares: 25...a6 26.Rfh1
Re7 27.R1h4 Rxh4 28.Rxh4 Kg7
29.f4, Kozul-Rogulj, Zagreb 2012.
15.Bd3 Rac8
Naturally, 15...Bd7 is not an option. It is even worse than on the
previous move: 16.Nf3 Nxf3 17.gxf3
f5 18.Bg5 Qg3 19.f4 Bxc3 20.bxc3
fxe4 21.Re3.
15...Bg3 16.Rf1 f5 stumbles
into 17.hxg4 Qxh1 18.Nh3 Qxf1+
19.Bxf1 fxg4 20.Nf2 Bxf2 21.Bxf2
g3 22.Bxd4 Rxf1+ 23.Kc2 (23.
Nd1) 23...cxd4 24.Qxd4 Rf2+
25.Kb3 Rxg2 26.e5 Rf2, SandipanLaylo, Manila 2010, 27.e6!.
The counter-attack 15...f5 16.Bg5
Qh5 17.exf5 Bg3 loses to the thematic hit 18.hxg4! Qxh1 19.Rd1
Rae8, Kozul-Jelen, Lasko 2011,
20.Nb5+.
16.Kb1!
24
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-trk+0
9zpp+-+-+p0
9-sn-+-+p+0
9+-zpPvlPvL-0
9-+-sn-+P+0
9+-sNL+-+-0
9PzP-wQ-+P+0
9+K+-tR-sNq0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...Nb4
10...a5 looses a valuable tempo.
Whites attack develops impetuously after 11.h4! (11.f4 e6 12.g4
M. Nikolov-Bartel, Kavala 2011)
11...Nb4 12.h5 Be6 13.hxg6 hxg6
14.Bh6 f4 15.g4 when 15...Nxa2+
16.Nxa2 Bxa2 looses by force, e.g.
17.Qh2 Rf7 18.Bxg7 Rxg7 19.d5+.
11.Nh3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-zp-vlp0
9-sn-+-+p+0
9+-+-zPp+-0
9-sn-zP-+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+N0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9+-mKR+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
White has neutralised the g7bishop and kept the centre closed.
This should allow him to develop a
long-term initiative on the kingside.
by opening the h-file. But first he
must complete development and
tame Blacks attacking attempts.
11...Be6
It makes sense to develop with
tempo by hitting a2. Alternatively:
a) 11...N4d5 is too slow: 12.Nf4
Nxf4 13.Bxf4 c6 14.Bh6 Be6 15.h4
and Black did not find anything better than to slow down the attack at
25
Part 1
the cost of a pawn: 15...f4 16.Bxf4,
Gustafsson-Gopal, Caleta 2010.
b) 11...a5 12.Kb1!?
We should be very careful when
making weaknesses with 12.a3. We
should resort to this move only if
we gain clear benefits. Otherwise it
might serve as a target in the long
run. The game Ding-Li Chao, Ningbo 2011, went on 12...N4d5 13.Nf4
Nxf4 14.Bxf4 c6 15.h4 Be6 16.h5
Nd5 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.Bh6 Nxc3
19.bxc3 Qb6 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 and although White can win the g6-pawn,
his weak king does not leave him
serious winning chances.
12...c6 13.Be2 (13.Nf4 g5) 13...
N4d5 (13...Be6 14.Nf4 Qd7 15.h4)
14.Nf4 Nxc3+ 15.Qxc3, keeping
everything under control.
c) 11...c6. Now 12.Kb1, transposing to other lines, looks best,
but 12.Nf4 g5 (12...N4d5 13.Ncxd5
Nxd5 14.Bc4 e6 15.h4) 13.Nh5 f4
14.Bf2 is also possible.
12.Kb1
There is no reason to allow 12.a3
Na2+.
12...Qd7
In the game Ding Liren-Zhou Jianchao, Guangzhou 2010, was 12...
N6d5 13.Nf4 (perhaps 13.Ng5!?
is better: 13...Qd7 14.Nxe6 Qxe6
15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bc4) when Black,
instead of taking on f4 with a typical position, chose 13...Nxc3+. This
loses immediately to 14.bxc3!+.
26
15.Ncxd5
Bxd5
(15...Nxd5
16.Nxe6 Qxe6 17.Bc4 c6 18.h4 h5
19.g4) 16.Nxd5 Qxd5, SvetushkinStella, A Capelle la grande Open
2013.
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9zP-+-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQ-+PzP0
9+K+R+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+pzpqzplvlp0
9-sn-+-+p+0
9zp-+-zPp+-0
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9zP-sN-vLP+-0
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15.Bb5!
Part 1
the game did not last long: 20.Rd4
Bxd4 21.Qxd4 Ra1+ 22.Kc2 Rxf1
23.Rxf1 Qxb5 24.Rc1 Rd8 25.Qe5
Bxd5 26.Nxd5 Rxd5 27.Qe6+ Kf8
28.Qc8+ Kf7 0-1.
15...c6 16.d5!
The possibility of this move defines Whites advantage.
16...Bxe5
16...N6xd5 17.axb4 axb4 (17...
e6 18.Ncxd5 exd5 19.Be2 axb4
20.Bd4) 18.Ncxd5; and 16...N4xd5
17.Bxb6 Nxb6 18.Qxd7 Nxd7 19.e6
cxb5 20.exf7+ Rxf7 21.Rxd7 are
hopeless.
17.Bxb6 cxb5 18.Rhe1
White rules in the centre and he
has a strong initiative. The game
Bitan-Vokarev, Bhubaneswar 2010,
went further 18...Bf6 (18...Bxc3
19.Qxc3 Nxd5 20.Qe5) 19.Bd4
Bxd4 20.Qxd4 Na6 21.d6 Qxd6
22.Ncd5 (22.Nfd5 Bxd5 23.Qxd5+)
22...Bxd5 23.Nxd5 Qc5 24.Qe5 (24.
Qf4 b4 25.Qxd6 bxa3 26.Qxa3)
24...Rad8 25.Nxe7+ Kf7 26.Nd5
Qd6 27.Qe7+ Qxe7 28.Rxe7+ Kg8
29.Nf6+ 1-0.
B3. 9...Qd6! 10.Nb5
Grischuk tried the interesting
pawn sacrifice 10.h4!? Rd8 11.Nb5
Qd7 12.h5 a6 13.Nc3 when Black
should capture on d4 by bishop. See
28
Game 6 Grischuk-Mamedyarov,
Moscow 2010, for details.
10.Kb1 Rd8 11.Nb5 Qd7 12.d5
transposes to the main line. I chose
the move order with 10.Nb5, because it enables additional interesting options as 11.Bh6.
10...Qd7
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11.Kb1
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29
Part 1
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9r+ltr-+k+0
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9+K+R+LsNR0
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9+-zpqzpp+p0
9p+-+-+p+0
9snp+P+-+-0
9-+ntRP+-zP0
9+-sN-+P+-0
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17...c5
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16.Bxc4!
Part 1
21.Kc2 Bd7 22.Kd1 Rxd8;
19.Nc3 exd5 20.Bxd8 (20.Nxd5
Qxd5!!) 20...Qxd8 21.Nxd5 Be6.
19...Qxc7 20.Bxc7 Rd7 21.d6
Be5 22.Ne3 Bxd6 23.Bb6 Bc7. Such
endgames are roughly equal if the
rooks have open files while the
minor pieces have not strong outposts. However, White has a forced
way to seize the initiative although
Black should be able to hold on:
24.Nc4 Rd1+ 25.Kb2 Rxf1 26.Bxc7
b5 27.Ne3 Rf2+ 28.Kb1 e5 29.Bxe5
Be6 30.Nh3 Bxh3 31.gxh3 Rxf3
32.Nd5 Rxh3 33.Rf1.
16...Nxc4 17.Qc1 Qc7
17...b5 18.b3 b4 19.Bxb4 Rb8
20.Bc5 a5 21.Ka1.
18.Bd4 e5! 19.Bf2 b5
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9+p+Pzp-+-0
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9+-sNNwQP+-0
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14.Qc1!
This retreat keeps the queen on
the c1-h6 diagonal and avoids the
opposition of Blacks queen along
the e-file. Thus the typical break
...e7-e6 is not efficient anymore as
the open file will be in Whites favour. From c1 the queen also keeps
an eye on c4.
After 14.Qe1, Black has at least
two decent retreats: 14...Na5!?
which is a novelty, and 14...Na7.
See my analysis of Game 8 Gelfand-Caruana, Zuerich 2013.
14...Na5
Let us check:
a) 14...Na7 15.Bd3!
The correct approach for White
is to complete development as fast
as possible. 15.Bf4?! looks attractive, but White is desperately behind in development which enables
the sharp counter-attack 15...Bd7!
16.Bxc7 Na4 17.Bxd8 (17.Nxa4
Bxa4 18.Bxd8 Qxd8) 17...Nxc3+
18.bxc3 Qxd8 19.f4 Rc8 20.e5 Qa5.
Black has nice compensation for
the missing material. After 21.Qd2
Rxc3 22.Ne2, he can force a draw
with 22...Nb5 23.Nxc3 Nxc3+
24.Ka1 f6 25.Rc1 fxe5 26.Rxc3 exf4
27.Kb2 Ba4 28.a3 b5 29.Qe1 b4
30.Qe6+= or maintain the tension
with 22...Qb6+ 23.Ka1 Rc5 24.Rb1
Qc7 25.Rc1 f6.
15...e6
Black cannot develop serious
counterplay without this move, for
33
Part 1
instance: 15...Nb5 16.Nge2 Bd7
17.h4 e6 18.Bg5 Rdc8 19.h5 (19.
Bh6 Bh8 20.h5 exd5 21.hxg6 fxg6
22.Nxd5 Nxd5 23.exd5 c5 24.Be4)
19...exd5 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.Nxd5
Nxd5 22.exd5.
16.Bg5 Rd6 17.Bf4 Rd7
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17.Bc5
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16...f6
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Part 1
Qf7 24.Nxd4) 23.exd5 cxd5 24.Nf4
Qf7 (24...d4 25.Ncd5 g5 26.Rhe1)
25.g4 g5 26.Nh5 Be6 27.Ne2 d4
28.Nxg7 Kxg7 29.Nxd4.
21.hxg6 hxg6 22.Nh3 c6. It
seems that Black is holding here.
18...Qf7
The queen defends g6 and hits
d5.
I do not see much sense in 18...
Qe7 19.h5 g5. White has the intermediate move 20.h6 Bh8 21.Bg3
with a clear edge.
18...e5 19.Bh6 gives White a
small, but stable advantage due to
his solid centre. More importantly,
Black lacks counterplay. I would
also mention:
18...Ne5 19.h5 exd5 (19...gxh5
20.Bxe5 fxe5 21.Bd3 Qf7 22.Nge2!
pinpoints the weaknesses of Blacks
kingside.) 20.hxg6 hxg6 21.exd5 c6
22.d6 Bf8 (22...Nd5 23.Bxe5 Qxe5
24.Nxd5 cxd5 25.Rxd5) 23.g4 Bxd6
24.Qc2. Whites attack is unfolding
by itself.
36
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Part 1
Complete Games
1. Svetushkin-Puntier
Istanbul 2012
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9.Bd4
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Part 1
13.Bxd7!
White had tried before 13.Nf3
Bxb5 14.Nxb5 c6=, G.Flear-Ni
Hua, Calvi 2007, and 13.Be2 Nf6
14.a4 a5 15.Bf3 c6 with sufficient
counterplay: 16.Nge2 cxd5 17.e5
Ne4 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Qxd5 Bc6,
Khismatullin-Yandemirov, Sochi
2006.
13...Qxd7 14.h3 Nf6 15.Nge2
c6 16.a4 Rad8 17.a5 Nc8 18.Rd1.
White has repelled the enemys
knights to passive stands while retaining his spatial advantage, e.g.
18...cxd5 19. e5 Nh5 20.g4 Ng7
21.Nxd5.
9.Bd4 keeps more pieces on the
board, but it also gives Black fair
counter-chances.
9...0-0 10.f4 Ng4
10...Bg4 11.Be2 Bxe2 12.Ngxe2
Ng4 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Qd4+ Nf6
15.Rd1 (or 15.0-0-0) 15...c6 is also
roughly equal.
11.Bxg7
11.h3?! e5! 12.Bxb6 Qh4+ favours Black.
11.Nf3 Bxd4 12.Qxd4 transposes
to the game.
Alternatively: 11...c5?! is a strategic mistake because Black needed
his c-pawn to undermine the centre
with ...c6. Following 12.Bxg7 Kxg7
13.Qd2 e6 14.d6, White is on top.
11...Nf6 has occurred in AnandCaruana, Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012:
38
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XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-tr-+0
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Part 1
XIIIIIIIIY
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14.0-0-0?!
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40
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10...e5
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13...a6
Whites pieces are not well coordinated (yet!), but his flexible
mobile pawn centre assures him of
the better prospects. The more minor pieces remain on the board, the
more difficult Blacks defence will
be. Of course, Timofeev knew very
well that he should aim to exchange
pieces when he had less space.
However, it is unclear how to fulfil
it. In the diagram position, Whites
most awkward piece is the b5-bishop. 13...Rd8 sets the unambiguous
threat of ...a6 so White must continue 14.f4 Bg7 15.Ng3 a6 16.Be2
Part 1
play. In my opinion, White should
devise a clear plan and embark on
its execution without delay. In the
diagram position, the target should
obviously be the black king. Since
e4-e5 looks impossible, the only
other breakthrough is f4-f5. It can
be executed immediately: 20.f5
Bf7 21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Nf4, hoping to
open up the centre, e.g. 22...Rad8?!
23.e5! Nxe5 24.Ne4. A better defence is 22...g5 23.Nd3 Bh5 24.Rde1
Bg6 although Whites initiative is
beyond doubt. Instead, Bocharov
begins some enigmatic redeployment of his knights.
20.Nd4 Bf7 21.Nce2 c5
This is a natural idea, but Blacks
pieces become shaky on the d-file.
Perhaps the preparatory 21...Rad8
was to be preferred.
22.Nf3 c4
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23.Nfd4?!
What is this for?! Blacks impatient pawn march enabled additional tactical motifs so both thrusts in
the centre are strong:
23.e5 fxe5 24.fxe5 Bc5 25.Nf4
42
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31.e5
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Part 1
20.Be3, Ward-Knott, Torquay
1998, when simplest is 20...Rf7
21.0-0 Rd7=.
It looks logical to save 12.Be2 in
favour of a more useful move as:
c) 12.0-0-0. Then 12...Bf5 13.g4
hxg4 14.h5 transposes to the game.
However, it is unclear what to do
after:
12...N8d7 (which has not been
tested yet). I do not like 13.Nh3 Nf6
14.Ng5 Bf5 15.Bd3 Bxd3 16.Qxd3
Rc8 17.Kb1 Nc4 so let us try:
13.g4 Nf6
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12...hxg4
12...Na6!? is an attempt to intercept the initiative by an attack on
the d5-pawn. It works quite well in
the event of 13.gxh5 gxh5 14.Bd3?!
Nb4 15.0-0-0 N6xd5 or 14.Bh6
Nb4 15.Bxg7 Kxg7. It seems logical,
therefore, to kill the nasty knight
with 14.Bxa6 bxa6, but this weakens the c4-square. After 15.Bh6
Nc4 16.Qg2 Qf6 17.Bxg7 Qxg7
18.Qxg7+ Kxg7 19.b3 (19.0-0-0 Bf5
20.Nge2 f6 21.Ng3 Bg6=) 19...Nb6
20.Nge2 Rd8 21.Rg1+ Kf8 22.Rd1
Bb7 the endgame is equal. Perhaps White should anticipate the
threat of ...Nb4 by 14.d6! Bf5 (14...
Be6 15.Nh3) 15.Ne4 Rc8 16.Nh3.
The a6-knight has remained cut off
from the kingside and Blacks king
is in a precarious situation: 16...Nc4
17.Bxc4 Rxc4 18.b3 Rc6 19.Rd1.
13.h5 Bf5
13...gxf3?! 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.Qh2
Bg4 16.Qh7+ Kf7 17.Bd3 f2+
18.Bxf2 e4 loses to 19.Bd4!+.
More stubborn is 16...Bf5 17.Qh7+
Kf7 18.Nf3 N8d7, KochemasovGlembek, email, 2005, 19.Nb5! Qf6
20.Bh4 Rh8 21.Ng5+ Ke7 22.d6+
Kf8 23.Qxh8+ Bxh8 24.Nh7+
Kf7 25.Nxf6 Bxf6 26.Bxf6 Kxf6
27.Rc1.
14.Bh6!?
Keeping all the options open. Alternatively:
a) 14.fxg4 Bxg4 15.hxg6 fxg6
16.Qg2 is too risky. Black can even
sacrifice the exchange to intercept
the initiative with 16...Rxf1+!?.
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14...Qd6
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45
Part 1
White has castled at last and now
he can enjoy a long-term initiative.
Black can defend his bare king, but
only at the price of weakening his
queenside. Thus the d5-pawn can
become Whites main trump. Here
are a few illustrative variations:
21...Nc4 22.Qg5 Rh2 23.Ng3
Qb6 24.Nf5+ Kh8 25.Rg2 Rh5
26.Qe7 (26.Qg4 Nf6 27.Qg3 Rh7
28.Na4 Qc7 29.Qxg6 Ne3+ 30.Kb1
Nexd5 31.Rdg1 Qf7) 26...Qf6
27.Qxd7 Qxf5 28.Qxb7 Rf8 29.Re2
Qf4+ 30.Kb1 Ne3 31.Rde1 Qf5+
32.Kc1 Ng4 33.Ne4 Rh7 (33...Rc8+
34.Kb1 Nf6 35.a3 Rh7 36.Qa6 Nxd5
37.Rd2 Nf4 38.Ka1) 34.Qb3.
13.gxh5 Nf6 14.hxg6 fxg6
XIIIIIIIIY
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15.Nh3!?
46
16...Qxd5?!
16...Nxd5 was the only chance to
survive. After 17.Bc5 Bxh3 18.Bxh3
Re8 19.0-0-0 Nf4 20.Bd7 Qc7
21.Qc2 Red8 22.Ba4 b6 23.Bb3+
Kh8 24.Be3, White will win a pawn,
but his chances for converting it
would be slim in view of the opposite coloured bishops. Perhaps Ivanchuk would keep the tension with
17.Ng5!? Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Rf4 19.Bd3.
The game course is much worse.
17.Qxd5+ Nxd5 18.Bc4 Be6
19.Ng5 Nxe3 20.Bxe6+ Kh8
21.Kf2!
XIIIIIIIIY
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4. Grischuk-Dominguez Perez
Thessaloniki 02.06.2013
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5
4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3
Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2 e5 9.d5 c6
10.h4 cxd5 11.exd5
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11...N8d7
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15.d6
47
Part 1
The most challenging move.
Anand chose in the match for the
world title against Gelfand in 2012
the safer 16.Ka1 e4 17.Bd4 (17.d6
Na4 18.Nge2 Qa5 19.Bd4, FellerSalgado Lopez, Belfort 2012, 19...
Nxc3! 20.Nxc3 Be6 is unclear) 17...
Na4 (Sutovsky proposed 17...e3
18.Bxe3 Nh5 with some compensation for the pawn. Of course, it
is more pleasant to play as White
here.
Another try is 17...exf3 18.Nxf3
Bf5 19.Bd3 Bg4 20.Qf2.) 18.Nge2
Qa5 19.Nxe4 Qxd2 20.Nxf6+
(or 20.Rxd2 Nxe4 21.fxe4 Bxd4
22.Rxd4,
Bocharov-Zakhartsov,
Tomsk 2013, 22...Rf2! 23.e5 Bb5=)
20...Rxf6 21.Rxd2 Rf5 (21...Rd6?!
22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.b3 Nb6 24.Nf4!,
Vitiugov-Timofeev, Russian tch.
2013) 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.d6 when
23...Nb6! 24.Nc3 Rd5! is a dead
draw.
15...Rc8 16.Kb1 e4!
Opening the main diagonal.
Black has also tried:
a) 16...Nc4 17.Bxc4+ Rxc4
18.Nge2 Bf5+ 19.Ka1 Be6 20.Bg5
(A positional approach. White enforces domination of his knights.
An alternative is 20.Bh6.) 20...Qd7
21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Ne4 Bd8 23.N2c3
Rf7 24.Qe3 Qc6 25.Rc1 Qa6 26.b3
Rc8 27.Na4 b6 28.Ng5 Bxg5
29.Qxg5 b5 30.Qxe5 bxa4 31.Qxe6
Rxc1+ 32.Rxc1 Qb6 33.Rc7 1-0, P.
Nielsen-Tazbir, Helsingor 2009.
b) 16...Be6 17.Nh3 Nbd5
48
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18.Ng5!
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19...Rf7!
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22...Bf5
49
Part 1
Or 23...Bxc2+ 24.Qxc2 Qd5
25.Qb3 Nf2 26.Ne6 Qxb3+ 27.axb3
Nxd1 28.Rxd1 Rf7 29.c4, advan
cing the c-pawn.
24.Qxd4 Bxc2+
24...Qb5+ 25.Ka1 Bxc2 loses
to 26.Rxh7! Qe5 27.Rdh1 Qxd4
28.cxd4.
25.Kxc2
27.Rdf1
Nc4
26.Kc1
Qa6
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50
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Na4
23.Ng5
Qc5
Bxc3
Qb4+
Qe1+
Qe1+
Draw
5. Lupulescu-Stella
Skopje 11.03.2013
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5
4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3
Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6
9.0-0-0 f5 10.e5
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17.Qc1!
Whites main plan with h4-h5
cannot be prevented, but the position does require some precautions.
Lupulescu neutralises firstly the
threat of ...c5.
17...Rac8 18.Be2
The slogan of Whites campaign in this game is: prophylaxis.
To be fair, the position was ripe already for 19.h4 since 19...c5 (19...
h5 20.g4!) 20.dxc5 Qxe5 21.Rxd7
Nxd7 22.Rd1 would give White a
clear edge.
18...Rd7 19.Qc3 e6 20.Rd2 c6
21.h4
After having demonstrated how
helpless and passive is Black, Lupulescu finally turns to the kingside.
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Part 1
24.g4! Nd5 25.Qd3, because the
opposite coloured bishops would
not help the defence here.
24.Bg5 Nd5
It was high time for 24...c5 although White retains an edge after
25.dxc5 Nd5 26.Qb3 Rxc5 27.f4.
25.Qb3 a6 26.f4 b5 27.g4
c5 28.dxc5 Rxc5 29.gxf5 gxf5
30.Bf3 a5
Simplest would have been now
31.Bf6!+ to finish the game with
an attack.
31.Bxd5
1-0
31...Rxd5
32.Rxd5
Qxd5
33.Qxd5 exd5 34.Rd1 Rc5 35.e6 Kf8
36.b4 axb4 37.axb4 Rc6 38.Rxd5
wins 2 pawns.
13...Nxd4
13...Bxd4! looks like a solid
equaliser against Grischuks idea.
14.hxg6 [White should not postpone this exchange or Black will get
additional possibilities: 14.Bxd4
Qxd4 15.Qf4 Qf2 16.hxg6 (16.
Bd3 Qc5 17.hxg6 hxg6) 16...Rxd1+
17.Nxd1 Qc5+ 18.Nc3 hxg6 19.Qh6
Qe5, Pitkaenen-Gyger, ICCF webserver, 2007.] 14...fxg6 15.Bxd4
(15.Nd5?! Nxd5 16.Bc4 e6 17.Bxd4
Nb6 18.Bxb6, Gonda-Gledura, Zalakaros 2013, 18...Qe7) 15...Qxd4
16.Qf4 Qf6 17.Rxd8+ Nxd8 18.Qxc7
(18.Qh2 h5 19.Bd3 Nf7) 18...Bd7
19.Qh2 Qg7 (19...h5 20.Bd3 Nc6
21.Nge2 Ne5 22.Bc2 Bb5=) 20.Kb1
Rc8 (20...Nf7 21.f4 e5 22.Nf3 exf4
23.Qxf4 Rc8 24.Be2) 21.Bd3 (21.
f4 Nf7 22.Nf3 Rxc3 23.bxc3 Qxc3)
21...Nc6 22.Nge2 Nb4 23.Rd1 Qf6=.
14.hxg6 fxg6 15.g4 Qc6
6. Grischuk-Mamedyarov
Moscow 10.11.2010
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5
4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3
Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6
9.0-0-0 Qd6 10.h4 Rd8 11.Nb5
Qd7 12.h5 a6 13.Nc3
52
XIIIIIIIIY
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XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ltr-+k+0
9+pzp-+-wq-0
9psn-+-+pwQ0
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9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+-+0
9+-mKR+LsNR0
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XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-+k+0
9+pzp-zp-+-0
9p+-+-+P+0
9+-wq-+-+-0
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In fact, White can escape from
the perpetual check with clever
manoeuvring. The most important factor is that an exchange of
queens gives White a big advantage
because of his active rook. It easily
reaches the 7th rank and strongly
supports the advanced kingside
pawns. Whites king needs only 2-3
moves to reach g5. Whites co-ordination is so efficient that this evaluation remains true even without the
a2-pawn!
White can improve even further
his chances if he inserts f3-f4. Here
are some variations:
26.Kd2 Qb4+
26...Qa5+ 27.Kd1 Qa4+ 28.Ke1
Qb4+ 29.Qd2 Qxd2+ 30.Kxd2 Be6
31.f4 is in Whites favour, but he
can also follow the route from the
main line to achieve f3-f4.
27.Ke2 [similar is 27.Kc2
Qc5+ 28.Kd1 Qd4+ 29.Qd2 (29.
53
Part 1
Ke1 Qa1+ 30.Kf2 Qd4+ 31.Kg3)
29...Qa1+ 30.Ke2 Be6 31.a3 c5
32.Bg2] 27...Qb2+ 28.Ke1 Qa1+
29.Kf2 Qd4+ 30.Kg3 Qe5+ 31.f4
Qc3+ 32.Kf2 Qd4+ 33.Kf3 Qc3+
34.Ke2 Be6 35.f5 Bxa2 36.Qh7+
Kf8 37.Qh6+ Kg8 38.Rh3 Qd4
39.Kf3) 27...Qc3+ 28.Kb1 Qb4+
29.Kc2 Qc5+ 30.Kd1 Qd4+ 31.Ke1
Qa1+ 32.Kf2 Qd4+ 33.Kg3 Qe5+
34.f4 Qc3+ 35.Kf2 Qd4+ 36.Kf3
Qc3+ 37.Ke2
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9r+l+qtrk+0
9+p+-zp-+p0
9psn-+-zppwQ0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+-snPzP-zP0
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9PzP-+-+P+0
9+-mKR+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 1
24.Bd5 Bxe6 25.Qe3 Nc4 26.Qd3
Ne5) 23...Rxc4 24.Rxd7 Rf7
25.Rxf7 Qxf7 26.fxg6 Qg7 27.Qxg7+
Kxg7 28.gxh7 Kxh7 29.Re1 with a
sound extra pawn.
Caruanas move allows him
to open up the centre and obtain
counterplay. Black should be out of
danger.
15.Nf3
Perhaps White should opt for
a safe albeit equal position after
15.h4 e5 16.Nf3 Qg7 17.Qxg7+ Kxg7
18.Nxd4 exd4 19.Rxd4=, Jones-Erdos, Bratto 2013.
15...e5! 16.fxe5 fxe5 17.Nxe5
Qd6
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18.Nf3
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21...Kh8!
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23.Rhf1!
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23.xg7+
XIIIIIIIIY
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27.e7+?!
27.a4! maintained some pressure. Then 27...a5 28.bxc5 bxc5
29.Bb5! Nxb5 30.axb5 would be
better for White so perhaps Black
should answer with 27...h6 28.Rxe8
Rxe8 29.a5 (29.bxc5 bxc5 30.Nf3
Nxf3 31.gxf3 a5=) 29...Rb8 30.Nf3
b5 31.Nxd4 cxd4 32.Bd3 Be6 33.Re1
Kf6 34.Bxg6 Rd8 35.Be4 Rxd6 with
a slight pull for White due to the
weak a6-pawn.
27...xe7 28.dxe7 e8 29.bxc5
bxc5 30.e1 c2!= 31.e2 d4
32.e3 c2 33.e2 d4 34.e3
c2 35.e2
Draw
8. Gelfand-Caruana
Zuerich 24.02.2013
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 d5
4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3
Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0-0-0
Qd6 10.Nb5 Qd7 11.Kb1 Rd8
12.d5 a6 13.Nc3 Qe8 14.Qe1 (14.
Qc1!)
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14...Na7
Part 1
move is aimed against counterpaly
in the centre with 15...e6. However, the position after 16.Bxb6 cxb6
17.f4 exd5!?, Zhao Xue-Lahno, Jermuk 2012, 18.fxe5 dxe4 is quite
messy and certainly not easy to defend as White over the board. The
bishop pair will be a cause for constant concern.
I have analysed the more thematic 15.Bd4 e6 16.f4 when 16...
Nec4 17.Bxc4 Nxc4 18.Nf3 b5
19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.h4 b4 21.h5 offers
White an attack, but Black can keep
the knight on the kingside: 16...Ng4
17.h3 Bxd4 18.Rxd4 Nf6 19.Qh4
Kg7. Everything is covered while
the d5-pawn is hanging.
To top it all, I could not find any
edge for White after the still untes
ted 14...Na5!?. Then 15.Bf4? Nac4
16.Bxc4 Nxc4 17.Bxc7 Rd7 18.Bf4
b5 would completely pass the initiative to Black. 15.Bd4 Bxd4 16.Rxd4
e6 17.h4 Nc6 is not enticing either.
Remains:
15.h4
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15...e6
Nxd4
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28...Qd7
29.Be2
Nd5
30.Nxd5 Qxd5 31.Qc1 Be6 32.b3
Qc6 33.Rd1?!
It was much more important
to exchange the bishops: 33.Bc4=.
Now Black is clearly on top.
33...Rxd1 34.Qxd1 Qe4 35.g3
Bf5?
9. Karjakin-Giri
Wijk aan Zee 17.01.2013
59
Part 1
XIIIIIIIIY
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12...Nc4
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16.Kb1!
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9r+l+-trk+0
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9+-sN-vL-+-0
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9r+lwq-trk+0
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20.g3
Part 1
62
Part 2
Anti-Grnfeld II
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Nc6, rare lines
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63
Part 2
Part 2
Main Ideas
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9r+l+-trk+0
9+p+nzppvlp0
9-wqpzp-snp+0
9zp-+P+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+LsNPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-snP+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+LsNPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Analysis
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+nzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+P+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-vL-+N0
9PzP-+L+PzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...c6
10.Nf2
Qa5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-wqpzp-snp+0
9+-snP+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-vL-sNPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
66
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zp-+-wqpvlp0
9-+pzp-snp+0
9+-sn-+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+L+-0
9PzP-+-sNPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Ganguly-Gupta
Kavala 2012
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zp-+-+pvlp0
9-+pzp-snp+0
9+-sn-+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzP-+LsNPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
14...Ncxe4! 15.Nfxe4
16.Nxe4 Re8 17.Bf3 d5=.
Nxe4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zp-zp-+pvlp0
9-zp-zp-snp+0
9+-snP+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzP-+LsNPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13...Ncxe4! 14.Ncxe4
15.Nxe4 Re8 16.Bd3 f5.
Nxe4
67
Part 2
Part 2
Step by Step
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9zppzpp+p+p0
9-+-+psnp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzP-+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzP-+P+PzP0
9tRNvLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
4.e4 d5 5.cxd5!
Vitiugov opted for 5.e5 Nh5 6.f4
(Golubev is not too fond of 6.Be3 c5
7.cxd5 exd5 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.Nge2 Ng7
10.Qd2 Be6 11.dxc5 Nf5 12.Bg5
Be7) 6...Qh4+ 7.g3 Nxg3 8.Nf3
Qh5 9.hxg3, but I do not see myself recommending to sacrifice an
exchange and a pawn without any
concrete variations in mind. The
text is no less principled while
keeping a balanced material.
5...exd5 6.Nc3 dxe4
Or 6...c5 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Bxd7+
Nbxd7 9.e5 Nh5 10.Nge2 cxd4
11.Qxd4 Nb6 12.Be3.
7.fxe4 Bb4 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bxf6
Qxf6 10.Nf3 Bg4 11.Bb5+ c6 12.Be2
Nd7 13.0-0 Qe7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+k+-tr0
9zpp+nwqp+-0
9-+p+-+pzp0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-vl-zPP+l+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+L+PzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0
9zppzppwqp+p0
9-+n+-+p+0
9+-+-zP-+n0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-+-+P+N0
9PzP-+P+PzP0
9tRN+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
8.g4
13.e3!
Enabling the set-up with Qf3,
Be2, 0-0. The game HammerYankovsky, Las Vegas 2012, went
13.Qd2 0-0 14.Nc3 Bxc4 15.e4 Bxf1
16.Rxf1 Rac8 17.Nd5 whereas 17...
Ne7! would have been unclear.
13...Rc8 14.Nc3 Rxc7 15.Qf3
0-0 (or 15...Rd7 16.Be2 0-0 17.0-0)
16.Be2!
Long castling is too risky:
16.0-0-0 Na5 17.b3 (17.Nb5 Rd7
18.Rxd7 Bxd7 19.Nxa7 Qe7) 17...
Qe7 18.Nb5, A.Kuzmin-Krasenkow, Amsterdam 2004, 18...Qb4
19.Nxc7 Nxb3+=.
16...Nf5 17.0-0
White has everything protected
and he is still a pawn up. The play
may continue with:
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9zpp+-+p+p0
9n+-+-+p+0
9+-+-+n+-0
9-+r+-zPNwq0
9zP-sN-zPQ+-0
9-zP-+-+-zP0
9+-tR-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+k+-tr0
9zppzP-+psnp0
9-+n+l+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+-zP-wq0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+PsN-zP0
9tRN+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 2
and co-ordinated. 21...Rcc8 22.Nd5
Nc5 23.Ngf6+ Kh8 24.e4 Nd4
25.Qe3 Nce6 26.Kh1.
4.d5 Ne5 5.e4 d6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9zppzp-zpp+p0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+Psn-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tRNvLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
6.Nc3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9zppzpnzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+P+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+N0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
A. 8...e5; B. 8...c6; C. 8...0-0
6...Bg7
A. 8...e5
6...c6 is rather committal. We
should ignore the threat of ...Qb6
and follow our main scheme with
7.f4 Ned7 8.Nh3 (Kramnik chose
70
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzpn+-vlp0
9-+-zpp+p+0
9+-sn-+P+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-+-+N0
9PzPL+-+PzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzpn+-vlp0
9-+-zppsnp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+N0
9PzP-+L+PzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...b6
Qe7
B. 8...c6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9zpp+nzppvlp0
9-+pzp-snp+0
9+-+P+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+N0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 2
consolidated. Black aims to either
disturb our development by ...Qb6
or sacrifice a pawn with...b5. White
should cut across these plans.
9.Be3!
b) 9.Nf2!? Qb6!
The point of Blacks eighth
move. 9...0-0 10.Be3 does not put
any obstacles to Whites development.
10.Be2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zp-+nzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+p+P+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+LsNPzP0
9tR-vLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+p+nzppvlp0
9-wqpzp-snp+0
9zp-+P+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+LsNPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12.Qc2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+pzp-snp+0
9wq-snP+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-vL-sNPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Qb6
Part 2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zppwqnzppvlp0
9-+pzp-snp+0
9+-+P+-+-0
9NzPP+PzP-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9P+-vLLsNPzP0
9+-tRQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzpnzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+P+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+N0
9PzP-+L+PzP0
9tR-vLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqr+k+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-sn-+0
9+-snPzpl+-0
9-+P+-+N+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+L+PzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwq-trk+0
9zp-+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+LsnP+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+-sNPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+p+nzppvlp0
9-wqpzp-snp+0
9zp-+P+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+LsNPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
75
Part 2
12.Qc2
Black is trying to be flexible and
retain control over b5. In response,
we defend b2, preparing to meet
...Nc5 by Be3. There is no reason to
displace our knight to a4:
12.Na4 Qa7 13.Qd3 (13.Bf3
b5 14.dxc6 bxa4 15.cxd7 Nxd7)
13...cxd5 (13...Nc5 14.Nxc5 Qxc5
15.Be3 Qb4 16.a3 Qxb2 17.Bd4+)
14.cxd5 b6 (14...b5 15.Be3) 15.Nc3
Nc5 16.Qd1 Ba6 17.Be3 Rfc8 18.Rc1
Bxe2 (18...Nfd7 19.Qd2) 19.Qxe2
Qa6 20.Qxa6 (20.Qd2 Nfd7) 20...
Rxa6 21.Rfe1 Nfd7 22.Re2. White
still has a space advantage, but the
enemy is well entrenched.
12...Nc5
12...Re8 threatens to open the
centre with ...e6. We can ignore
this idea with 13.Rb1 because 13...
e6 14.dxe6 Rxe6 15.Rd1 would lead
to a good version of a typical Kings
Indian position.
Instead of defining the situation
in the centre, Black can follow up
with 13...a4 14.Bf3 Nc5 (14...Qb4
15.Qe2 cxd5 16.cxd5 b6 17.Rd1; 14...
Qa6 15.b3) 15.Be3 Qb4, but then
16.dxc6 bxc6 17.e5! would be grim
for him.
fxe6
Kh8
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-tr-mk0
9+p+nzp-vlp0
9-+p+-+p+0
9zp-snP+-+-0
9-wq-+-+N+0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzPQ+L+PzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
All the white pieces are fully mobilised and targeted onto the enemy
king. It is unclear how Black can
complete development. A possible
continuation is 19...Rxf1+ 20.Rxf1
a4 (20...Bd4 21.Qc1) 21.a3 Qa5
22.Qd1! threatening d6 or Bd4.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-snP+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+LsNPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...c6
Black can try to build up a defence line along the fifth rank with:
12...Re8 13.Bf3 h5 (13...b5
14.Be3 b4 15.Bxc5 bxc3 16.Bd4
cxb2 17.Rb1 Rb8 18.Qd2) 14.h3 a5
15.Re1 Nfd7 16.Be3 b6.
White has a thematic plan here.
He should open up the centre with
e4-e5, followed by f4-f5. It would be
in his favour to remove one of the
black defenders with 17.Bd4!?. Of
course Black can keep the bishop
with 17...Bh6, but it would be useless there since 18.g3 h4 would fail
to 19.Ng4). In Jones-M.Andersen,
Reykjavik 2012, White chose:
17.Qc2 Ba6 when the most consistent way of preparing e4-e5 is:
18.Rad1!
The stem game saw 18.a4?!
Qf6 19.Rab1 Kh7? (19...Rac8)
20.e5 dxe5 21.Nce4 Qd8 22.f5
Nxe4 23.fxg6+ fxg6 24.Nxe4 Bh6
25.Bxh5+. After the text, Black is
unable to prevent e4-e5:
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqr+k+0
9+-zpn+pvl-0
9lzp-zp-+p+0
9zp-snP+-+p0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-vLL+P0
9PzPQ+-sNP+0
9+-+RtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 2
on the kingside. (26.Na4 Bb5
27.Naxc5 Nxc5 28.Nxc5 Bf8 29.a4
Rxd6 30.Rc1 Bd3 31.Rxe5 is also in
Whites favour).
18...b5 19.e5 dxe5 20.f5 b4
21.Nce4 (21.fxg6 bxc3 22.gxf7+
Kxf7 23.Bxc5 Nxc5 24.Bxh5+ Kg8
25.Bxe8 Qxe8 26.Qxc3) 21...Nxe4
22.Bxe4.
13.dxc6 bxc6 14.Bf3
Avoid piling minor pieces on an
open e-file: 14.Be3 Ncxe4! 15.Nfxe4
Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Re8 17.Bf3 d5=.
14...Qe7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zp-+-wqpvlp0
9-+pzp-snp+0
9+-sn-+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+L+-0
9PzP-+-sNPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Be3
It is tempting to discourage
...d6-d5 by 15.Re1!?. Then 15...Rd8?!
16.Be3 d5 17.e5 Nfd7 18.Rc1 Ne6
19.Na4 Bb7 20.Nd3 gave White
a good version of the main line,
see Game 12 Hammer-A.Smith,
Norway 2012. However, 15...Rb8!
would practically force 16.Be3 Rxb2
17.Bxc5 dxc5 18.e5. Whites posi78
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zp-+nwqpvlp0
9-+p+-+p+0
9+-snpzP-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-sN-vLL+-0
9PzP-+-sNPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
17.Re1!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+-+k+0
9zp-+nwqpvlp0
9l+p+n+p+0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+P+-vLL+-0
9P+-+NsNPzP0
9+-tRQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
79
Part 2
Part 2
Complete Games
10. Svetushkin-Torrecillas
Leon 09.11.2012
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Nc6
4.d5 Ne5 5.e4 d6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.f4
Ned7 8.Nh3 0-0 9.Be2 e6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzpn+pvlp0
9-+-zppsnp+0
9+-+P+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+N0
9PzP-+L+PzP0
9tR-vLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10.dxe6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+ntrk+0
9zppzpl+-+p0
9-sn-zppwqp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PvlPzPP+0
9+-sNQ+-+-0
9PzP-vLLsN-zP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
16...Bc6?
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+qtr-mk0
9+-zpntr-snp0
9-zplzpp+psN0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9-zPP+PzPLzP0
9+-sN-+-mK-0
9-wQ-+-tR-+0
9+-+-tR-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
36.Rh2
It would have been wise to leave
the opposition along the e-file in
order to prevent tactical blows
with ...d5. For instance, 36.Ra1 d5
does not work due to 37.cxd5 exd5
38.exd5 Re3+ 39.Kh2.
36...Bb7 37.Ra1?
Part 2
7.f4 Ned7 8.Nh3 0-0 9.Be2 c6
10.Nf2 cxd5 11.cxd5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+nzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+P+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+LsNPzP0
9tR-vLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Nb6?!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+nwq-trk+0
9zpp+l+-vlp0
9-+-zppsnp+0
9zP-+-+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+QsN-+-+-0
9-zP-+LsNPzP0
9tR-vL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zp-+-wqpvlp0
9-+pzp-snp+0
9+-sn-+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+L+-0
9PzP-+-sNPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
82
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-tr-+k+0
9zpl+nwqpvlp0
9-+p+n+p+0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9N+-+-zP-+0
9+-+NvLL+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9+-tRQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
19...f6
Rf8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9zpl+-+qvlp0
9-+p+-+-+0
9+-sNp+p+-0
9-+-vL-zP-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+R+PzP0
9+-+Q+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
83
Part 2
Having a rook which rules
over the open e-file is certainly in
Whites favour here.
27...Rxe8 28.Re2 Ra8?
An incredible decision. Black assigns its rook the role of a defender
of the a7-pawn! 28...Rxe2 29.Qxe2
Qf7 would have held on. Then
30.Bxa7?! Ba6 would even turn the
tables!
29.Qe1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+k+0
9zpl+n+-vlp0
9-+p+-wqp+0
9+-+p+n+-0
9N+-+-zPL+0
9+-+N+-+-0
9PzP-+RvLPzP0
9+-+-wQ-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
84
29...d4?
This loses the unfortunate bishop on b7. 29...Ba6 kept Black in the
game.
30.Re8+ Nf8 31.Rxa8 Bxa8
32.Qe8 Ne3 33.Bf3?
33.Be2 was winning much faster.
33...Bb7
34.Nac5
Qf5
35.Be4 Qc8 36.Qe7 Ba6 37.h3
Bxd3 38.Bxd3 Nd5 39.Qxa7
Nxf4 40.Bc4+ Nd5 41.Ne4
Ne6 42.Nd6 Qc7 43.Qa8+
Bf8 44.Ne8 Qb6 45.Qc8 Nef4
46.Qd7 Kh8 47.Qf7 Bh6 48.Nf6
Nxf6 49.Qxf6+ Bg7 50.Qxf4
Qxb2 51.Bg3 d3 52.Qb8+ Qxb8
53.Bxb8 d2 54.Bb3 c5 55.Kf1 c4
56.Bc2 c3 57.a4
1-0
Part 3
Benoni/Volga Deviations
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 c5 4.d5
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+pzpp+p0
9-+-+-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzP-+P+PzP0
9tRNvLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
85
Part 3
Part 3
Main Ideas
Although 3...c5 formally leads to
Volga/Benoni pawn structures,
the particular move order with 3.f3
brings about independent variations which have their own opening
theory. Let us start with the Volga
hybrid:
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqntrk+0
9+-+nzppvlp0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+PzpP+-+-0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+N0
9-zP-+L+PzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+-+pzpp+p0
9p+-+-snp+0
9+PzpP+-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tRNvLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvlp0
9p+-zplsnp+0
9+Pzp-+-+-0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+N0
9-zP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Cons:
Having seen 3...c5 played, White
can abandon the typical set-up altogether and opt for Na3 or Nd2, leaving c3 for the kings knight. That
solves the inherent drawback of the
Smish set-up where the knight has
to tread on a long path (commonly
Ne2-g3-h1-f2 or Ne2-f1-d2) before
finding a decent stand. Note that
the attempt to employ the same manoeuvre after 3...Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Ne2
0-0 6.Be3 (instead of 6.Nbc3) 6...
c5 7.d5 stumbles into 7...Qb6!?. But
7.Qd2 is possible - see Part 9!
2. White can develop his bishop
to g5 instead of e3. In the standard
move order that would be an arguable idea as Black could try to exploit
the weakness of d4.
Finally, if White likes the variation 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 0-0
6.Be3 c5 7.d5, the early 3...c5 should
lead to a simple transposition.
Whites basic set-up against the
Benoni structure can be illustrated
with the following diagram:
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqntrk+0
9+p+-+-vlp0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpP+l+-0
9Psn-+-+-+0
9sN-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 3
nation. In order to escape this scenario, Black tries after:
3.f3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.e4 the following main plans:
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+-zpp+p0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tRNvLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
1. 5...e6 6.Bg5!?
I also consider in detail 6.Ne2,
but the text is more straightforward
as it cuts off a number of options for
Black.
6...exd5 7.cxd5 Bg7 8.Qd2
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-vL-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9tRN+-mKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqr+k+0
9zpp+n+pvl-0
9-+-zp-snpzp0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9tRN+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
White will complete development with 0-0, a4, Na3 and he will
think about Rb1, followed up by
b4 (or Nc2 first). Black can never accomplish ...b5 so his natural
counterplay should be connected
with ...f5. In my opinion, he should
defend the h6-pawn with 12...Kh7
(we see here the merit of Bg5!)
13.0-0 Nh5 14.a4 f5 15.Na3. Whites
space advantage assures him of
some initiative.
In practice, however, he weakens
his kingside with 12...h5 13.0-0 Nh7
14.a4 f5 15.Na3 or 12...a6 13.a4 h5
14.0-0 Nh7 when 15.h3!? (to meet
15...Ne5?! by 16.f4 Nf7 17.Bf3)
15...f5 16.Na3 fxe4 17.Nxe4 Ndf6
18.Bd3 Nxe4 19.fxe4. It is easy to
play with a space advantage provided that the opponent has not serious threats.
2. A refined version of the previous plan is when Black aims for
...f5, but delays taking on d5. Thus
hell be able to recapture on f5 by
the e6-pawn, reaching a symmetric
pawn structure. Although this approach is somewhat passive and not
characteristic for Benoni adepts, we
should know how to cope with it.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-tr-+0
9+p+n+pvlk0
9p+-zp-snpzp0
9+-zpPs+-+-0
9P+-+P+P+0
9sN-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQL+-zP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
8.Bg5!
We must make Black pay to
get ...Nh5. 8.Be3 Nh5 9.g4 Nf6 is
unclear or 9.Qd2 f5 10.Bg5 Bf6
11.Bxf6 Nxf6
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+-+p0
9-+-zppsnp+0
9+-zpP+p+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9tRN+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppsn-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+L+PzP0
9tRN+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
89
Part 3
Blacks knight on c7 makes a
possible attack with ...f5 ineffective
so we have not any compelling reason to put our bishop on g5. On the
contrary we need it on e3. It can
support a future b2-b4 and it also
enables tactical blows like e4-e5,
based on the hanging c5-pawn.
9...a6 10.a4 Rb8 11.0-0 Bd7
12.Na3 Nfe8 13.Qd2 e6
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wqntrk+0
9+psnl+pvlp0
9p+-zpp+p+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9P+P+P+-+0
9sN-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wqntrk+0
9+-snl+pvlp0
9ptr-zpp+p+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9sN-sN-vL-+-0
9-zP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9+p+-+pvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+-+P+P+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+-zP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppsn-+-vlp0
9-+-zppsnp+0
9+-zpP+p+-0
9P+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQL+PzP0
9tRN+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwq-trk+0
9zppsn-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-vL-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9tRN+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Analysis
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+ntrk+0
9zpp+-+-+p0
9n+-zp-+p+0
9wq-zpPvlpvL-0
9P+P+-+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9-zPNwQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
91
Part 3
Part 3
Step by Step
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+pzpp+p0
9-+-+-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzP-+P+PzP0
9tRNvLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
A. 4...b5; B. 4...d6 (4...Bg7)
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqntrk+0
9+-+nzppvlp0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+PzpP+-+-0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9-zP-+-sNPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9+-+-zppvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+PzpP+-+-0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9-zP-+-+PzP0
9tR-vLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+Pzp-+-+-0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+P0
9-zP-+-+-zP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 3
18.Rc1 Bd2 (18...Bd4 19.b6 a5
20.Bxd4 cxd4 21.Bb5) 19.Rxc5,
White is a pawn up in the endgame.
12.Nxb5
14.Be2
Na6
13.Nf4
d5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvlp0
9n+-+lsnp+0
9+Nzpp+-+-0
9P+-+PsN-+0
9+-+-vLP+-0
9-zP-+L+PzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
5...d6. I do not see any reason behind 5...0-0. White can continue
with the standard 6.Ne2 when play
should transpose to the main line.
However, he can also opt for the
more challenging 6.Nh3 d6 7.Nf2.
As a rule, it is a good idea to develop the knight here in the Benoni
structures. Instead of following the
route of Ng1-e2-g3-h1-f2, or Ng1e2-g3-f1-e3, it is better to save a
tempo if the opponent allows it.
The game Korchnoi-Miles, Buenos
Aires 1978, went further with 7...
e6 8.Nc3 Na6 9.Be2 Nc7 10.0-0 a6
11.Bg5 h6 12.Be3 exd5 13.cxd5 b5
14.Qd2 Kh7 15.e5!.
4...e6 5.e4 exd5 6.cxd5 d6 transposes to line B1.
5.e4
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+-zpp+p0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tRNvLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
B1. 5...e6; B2. 5...Bg7
B. 4...d6
Black can also play first 4...Bg7
5.e4 (5.Nh3 is premature due to 5...
b5 6.cxb5 a6 when 7.e4 does not
work: 7...axb5 8.Bxb5 Qa5+ 9.Nc3
Nxe4 10.fxe4 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Qxb5)
94
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-vL-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tRN+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqr+k+0
9zpp+n+pvl-0
9-+-zp-snpzp0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9tRN+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...a6
Black can refrain from this move
thus saving a tempo, because it only
provokes the useful a4. I suppose
that Blacks best set-up here is:
12...Kh7 (instead of the weakening ...h5) 13.0-0 Nh5 14.a4 f5
15.Na3. Whites space advantage
assures him of some initiative, but
Blacks position is quite solid.
In practice, however, we witness
only the plan with ...h5, ...Nh7. It
is typical against the set-up with
Ng1-e2-g3, but it looks ineffective
in the current circumstances:
12...h5 13.0-0 Nh7 14.a4 (Liar
det-Mrdja, Geneve 1990, went
14.h3 f5 15.Na3 Re8 16.Rab1! Nf7
17.b4 b6 18.bxc5 bxc5 19.Bb5 Bd7
when 20.Nc4 would have completed Whites plan for a queenside
activity. Still, I do not see a compelling reason to weaken our kingside.)
14...f5 15.Na3. Black does have a
nice outpost on e5, but his castling
position is compromised and his
queenside is rather cramped.
13.a4 h5 (13...Kh7!?) 14.0-0
Nh7 15.Kh1
15.h3!? is also possible: 15...
f5 (15...Ne5?! 16.f4 Nf7 17.Bf3)
16.Na3 fxe4 (16...g5?! is enticing, but it fails tactically: 17.f4! g4
18.hxg4 hxg4 19.Nc4 g3 20.Nxd6
Qh4 21.Rf3 Qh2+ 22.Kf1 Qh1+
23.Bg1 Bd4 24.Rxg3+.) 17.Nxe4
Ndf6 18.Bd3 Nxe4 19.fxe4.
15...Ne5 16.h3 f5 17.Na3 Nf6
This position has occurred in
Rogers-Wang Zili, Sydney 1991.
95
Part 3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqr+k+0
9+p+-+-vl-0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpPsnp+p0
9P+-+P+-+0
9sN-sN-vLP+P0
9-zP-wQL+P+0
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+-+p+p0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpP+-+n0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tRN+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
An Ivanchuks brainchild, obviously aimed against Bg5. The possibility for this move made me recommend 6.Bg5 not because 7...Nh5
is that dangerous, but to save you
96
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0
9+p+nwqpvlp0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpP+-zP-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-sN-vL-zP-0
9PzP-wQ-+-+0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Nbd7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqntrk+0
9zpp+n+pvlp0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+-+P+P+0
9+-sN-vLPsN-0
9PzP-wQL+-zP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 3
Nc7 14.a4 b6 [14...a6 15.Bh6 (or
the thematic 15.f4!? Rb8 16.e5
dxe5 17.f5) 15...Qe7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7
17.h4; 14...Ne5 15.h3 Re8 (15...
c4 16.0-0 b6 17.Kg2) 16.f4] 15.h4
Ba6 16.Nb5.
B2. 5...Bg7 6.Ne2 0-0
Black does not get benefits from
delaying castling. The game LeroyConquest, Hastings 2008, went 6...
Nbd7 7.Nec3 a6 8.a4 Qa5 9.Na3
h5 10.Be2 h4 11.0-0 Nh5 12.Nc2
f5 13.exf5 gxf5 14.f4 Ndf6 when
15.Bd2 Qc7 16.a5 or 16.Ne3 is
quite good for White.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
7.Nec3!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppsnn+pvl-0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpP+-zPp0
9P+-+PzP-zP0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9-zP-+L+-+0
9tRN+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpP+-vLn0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tRN+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
8...h6
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zp-vl-0
9-+-zp-+-zp0
9+-zpP+p+n0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tRN+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 3
14.Nd2 (14.Rg1 a6 15.Nd2 b5) 14...
Ne5 15.Qc2 a6 16.0-0-0 (16.Rg1
Qe8 17.h4 h5 18.gxh5 Qxh5) 16...
b5 17.Rhg1 Qe8!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+qtrk+0
9+-+-zp-vl-0
9p+-zp-sn-zp0
9+pzpPsn-+-0
9-+P+-zpP+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzPQsNLvL-zP0
9+-mKR+-tR-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+-zp-vl-0
9p+-zp-sn-zp0
9+-zpPsn-+-0
9P+P+-zp-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9-zPL+QvLPzP0
9tRN+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
a5
Aimed against 19.a5. Black
hopes that his blockade on the e5
will save him from trouble, but,
slowly, White should be able to invade the enemy camp through the
e-file. 18...b6 does not change significantly Whites play. Here is an
example how we can redeploy our
pieces to target the critical black
outpost: 19.Kh1 Bf5 20.Bxf5 Qxf5
21.Nde4 Nxe4 22.Nxe4 a5 23.Be1
Kh8 24.Bc3 Rf7 25.Nf2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-mk0
9+-+-zprvl-0
9-zp-zp-+-zp0
9zp-zpPsnq+-0
9P+P+-zp-+0
9+-vL-+P+-0
9-zP-+QsNPzP0
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
Now Black should reckon with
Ng4, Nd3 and even Bxe5, followed
by Nd3. His proud f4-pawn would
be a serious weakness in an endgame. The b6-pawn is also very
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+-+p0
9-+-zppsnp+0
9+-zpP+p+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9tRN+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pvl-0
9-+-zppsnpzp0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tRN+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black should now make a critical choice. He can opt for the more
passive plan with ...Na6, or take a
more challenging approach with...
f5.
9...Nh5
101
Part 3
9...Ne8 10.Be2 exd5 11.cxd5 f5
12.exf5 Bxf5 13.Qd2 looks passive
for Black who has constantly to
worry about possible g4:
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqntrk+0
9zpp+-+-vl-0
9-+-zp-+pzp0
9+-zpP+l+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9tRN+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-tr-+0
9+p+-+pvlk0
9p+-zp-snpzp0
9+-zpPsn-+-0
9P+-+P+P+0
9sN-sN-vLP+P0
9-zP-wQL+-+0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppsn-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+L+PzP0
9tRN+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...a6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqntrk+0
9+p+-+-vlp0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpP+l+-0
9Psn-+-+-+0
9sN-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+ntrk+0
9zpp+-+-+p0
9n+-zp-+p+0
9wq-zpPvlpvL-0
9P+P+-+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9-zPNwQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 3
Black has not any other idea but
to start chipping at Whites centre
with ...e6 and ...f5. However, he
should defend first the d6-pawn.
12...Nfe8 13.Qd2 e6
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wqntrk+0
9+psnl+pvlp0
9p+-zpp+p+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9P+P+P+-+0
9sN-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
14.a5
104
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wqntrk+0
9+-snl+pvlp0
9ptr-zpp+p+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9sN-sN-vL-+-0
9-zP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 3
Complete Games
13. W.Arencibia-Ivanovic
Manila 1990
This game is a good example of
play in a symmetric pawn structure
where Black has not any weaknesses on the kingside.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 c5 4.d5
Bg7 5.e4 d6 6.Ne2 e6 7.Nec3
Na6 8.Be2 Nc7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppsn-+pvlp0
9-+-zppsnp+0
9+-zpP+-vL-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-+L+PzP0
9tRN+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wqr+k+0
9+-snl+pvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-vL-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9P+NwQL+PzP0
9+-+-tRRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
18...Qe7
More consistent is 11.a4, but apparently White had set already his
mind about taking on d5 by the epawn.
Part 3
the queenside a bit vulnerable to
invasion from a5.
19.Bd3 Qf8 20.Rb1 Rxb1
21.Nxb1 Rb8 22.Qa5 Qc8
23.Nd2 Nfe8 24.Re1 Bf5 25.Ne4
Rb2 26.Bc1 Rb7 27.Bf4 Qd7
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+n+k+0
9+rsnq+pvlp0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9wQ-zpP+l+-0
9-+P+NvL-+0
9+-+L+P+-0
9P+N+-+PzP0
9+-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White has reached the maximum for this structure, but it is still
unclear how he could make progress from here. In such situations,
where you have not a clear plan,
you should find a way to manoeuvre without spoiling your position.
It is good to define some short-term
goals, like making more room for the
king with g3, Kg2, exchanging the
light-squared bishops with Nd3-f2,
improving the placement of the c2knight with Nc2-e3-f1-d2 etc. The
most important thing, however, is
to understand which piece would be
favourable to exchange and which
one to keep. In the diagram position, White obviously should guard
his dark-squared bishop for at least
two reasons it attacks one of the
two Blacks weaknesses, and it also
controls the penetration square b2.
The next moves, however, show
that Arencibia did not understand
the importance of that piece.
106
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+-+p+p0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpP+-+n0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwq-trk+0
9+-snn+pvlp0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+pzpP+-+-0
9P+-+P+PzP0
9+-sN-vLPsN-0
9-zP-wQL+-+0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
17.axb5
axb5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+pzpPsn-vLP0
9-+-+P+P+0
9+-+-+PsN-0
9-zP-wQL+-+0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
20...f6
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wq-+k+0
9+-+l+ntr-0
9-+-zp-zpp+0
9+pzpP+-zP-0
9-+-+PzP-+0
9+-+-+-sN-0
9-zP-wQL+-+0
9+-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
107
Part 3
Black is only a move away from
equality he is hoping for ...Rh7,
but White throws more oil into the
fire with:
108
Part 4
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
109
Part 4
Part 4
Main Ideas
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4
d6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Be3 c5
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+p+-zppvlp0
9-+lzp-snp+0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+PvLP+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+rtr-+0
9+p+nzppmkp0
9-wqlzp-+p+0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+R+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9+-+-tR-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+PzpP+-+0
9+NsN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...Qe5!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+q0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+NsN-vLPzP-0
9PzP-+Q+LzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-wqrvlr+k+0
9+l+n+p+p0
9pzp-zppsnp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zPP+P+-+0
9zPNsN-vLP+-0
9-+-wQ-+PzP0
9+-tRR+L+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
24.Bf4!
26.c5.
Ne5
25.Bxe5!
dxe5
9.Ng3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpPsn-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLPsN-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
111
Part 4
The hottest branch here is 9...h5
while 9...e6 is the older treatment.
a6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvl-0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+pzpPsn-+-0
9-+-+P+-zp0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-sNL+PzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+-+-+pvl-0
9pwq-zp-+p+0
9+p+Psn-vLn0
9-+p+PzP-zp0
9+-sN-+-+P0
9PzP-sNL+PmK0
9tR-+Q+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
112
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wq-trk+0
9+-+l+pvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9P+p+PzP-+0
9+-sN-vL-sNP0
9-zP-wQ-+P+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
17...Rb3 (Bologan)
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wqntrk+0
9+-+l+pvlp0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpPzP-+-0
9P+p+NzP-+0
9+rsN-vL-+P0
9-zP-wQ-+P+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+-+-vln0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpPsnp+-0
9P+-+P+-zp0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQLsNPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+p+ltr-vln0
9p+-zp-wq-+0
9+-zpP+p+-0
9P+-+-vL-zp0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9-zP-wQL+PzP0
9+-+R+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+k+0
9+p+ltr-+n0
9p+-zp-wqnvl0
9+-zpP+p+L0
9P+-+-zP-zp0
9+-sN-+-+N0
9-zP-wQ-vLPzP0
9tR-+-tR-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 4
preserve the active long-range pieces with 24.Rg1! Rg7 25.a5, awaiting
the best timing for g3.
Another good plan is to open the
b-file (if Black transfers his pieces
on the kingside).
Dreev-Ramnath Bhuvanesh
Delhi 2010
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-sn-mk0
9+p+ltr-+-0
9p+-zp-wqnvl0
9zP-zpP+p+L0
9-+-+-zP-zp0
9+-sN-+-+N0
9-zP-wQ-vLPzP0
9+R+-+-tRK0
xiiiiiiiiy
27.b4! Bg7 28.Ne2 and Black loses control of the critical square d4.
Note the rook lift in the following example:
Analysis
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+p+l+nvln0
9p+-zp-wqp+0
9zP-zpP+p+-0
9-+-+PzP-zp0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9-zP-wQLsNPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
114
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+r+k+0
9+p+l+-+n0
9p+-zp-+qvl0
9+-zpP+p+-0
9P+-+-zP-vL0
9+-sN-+-+N0
9-zP-wQ-+PzP0
9+-+-tR-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wq-trk+0
9+-+l+pvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9P+p+PzP-+0
9+-sN-vL-sNP0
9-zP-+-+P+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 4
Step by Step
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4
d6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Be3 c5
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
7.Nge2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zp-+q+-snp0
9n+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpP+p+-0
9-zp-+PzP-+0
9+-+-+-sN-0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9tR-+N+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 4
Bu Xiangzhi-Areshchenko, Dagomys 2008. White can obtain a super centre by 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5
Rad8 20.Qe2 Nc7 21.d6.
b) 7...Qa5 8.Nc1 cxd4 (8...Nc6
9.Nb3 Qc7 10.d5 Ne5 11.Be2) 9.Nb3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+PzpP+-+0
9+NsN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
116
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+q0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+NsN-vLPzP-0
9PzP-+Q+LzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+r+k+0
9zpp+nzppvlp0
9-+-zpl+p+0
9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+PvLP+-+0
9+PsN-+P+-0
9P+-wQL+PzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PvLP+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Bc6
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+rtr-+0
9+p+nzppmkp0
9-wqlzp-+p+0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+R+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9+-+-tR-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 4
2. To keep the bishop and play
in the centre: 13.b3 Nd7 14.Be3 Nc5
15.Rab1 Qb6 16.Rfc1 Rfc8 17.Rc2 h5
18.Bf1 Kh7 19.g3 Qd8 20.Bh3, see
Game 22 Navara-Svidler, Prague
2012.
d) 7...Nbd7 8.Qd2 a6 9.Rd1
brings about two pawn structures,
depending on Blacks choice:
d1) A good version of the Marczy Bind. For example: 9...b6 10.Nc1
I prefer to have the white knight
on b3, but 10.Ng3 cxd4 11.Bxd4 e6
12.Be2,
Ponomariov-V.Spasov,
Baile Herculane 2010, is also possible.
10...cxd4 11.Bxd4 Bb7 12.Be2
Rc8 13.0-0 Qc7 14.Nb3 e6 15.Be3
Ne8 16.Rc1 Nc5 17.Nd4 Nf6 18.b4
Ncd7 19.Nb3 Rfe8 20.Rfd1 Bf8
21.a3 Qb8 22.Bf1 Be7 23.Kh1 Bd8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-wqrvlr+k+0
9+l+n+p+p0
9pzp-zppsnp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zPP+P+-+0
9zPNsN-vLP+-0
9-+-wQ-+PzP0
9+-tRR+L+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
In Postny-Czarnota, Germany
2010, White carried on probably
the most fearsome strategic plan
against the hedgehog: 24.Bf4! Ne5
25.Bxe5! dxe5 26.c5.
9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qc7 (10...e6
11.Be2 d5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.exd5
Nb6 14.Nb3) 11.Be2 Ne5 12.b3
Nc6 13.0-0 Bd7
118
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+pwqlzppvlp0
9p+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PsNP+-+0
9+PsN-vLP+-0
9P+-wQL+PzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+p+n+pvlp0
9p+-+psnp+0
9wq-zp-+-+-0
9-+P+PsN-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9+-+RmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-+lzppvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9sn-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sNLvLPsN-0
9P+-+-+PzP0
9+-tRQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
13...Rb8 (13...e6 14.0-0 exd5
15.cxd5) 14.0-0 Rb4 15.Qe2 Qc7
16.Nd1 Rfb8 (16...e6 17.Bd2 Ra4
18.Bc3 Re8 19.Qc2 Rb8 20.f4)
17.Bd2 Ra4 18.Bc3 e5 19.dxe6 Bxe6
(19...fxe6 20.e5) 20.f4 Qe7 21.f5
Bd7 22.Ne3.
9.Ng3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpPsn-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLPsN-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Main branches here are:
A. 9...h5; B. 9...e6
Part 4
A. 9...h5 10.Be2 h4 11.Nf1 e6
The game Lalic-Berg, Germany
2004, did not last long after 11...h3
12.g4 Qa5 13.Nd2 Nfxg4?!. White
took the piece and went on to destroy the enemys kingside after
14.fxg4 Bxg4 15.0-0 Bd7 16.Qe1 a6
17.Qh4 f6 18.Nf3 g5 19.Qg3 Ng6
20.Kh1 b5 21.Rg1 bxc4 22.Bxg5
fxg5 23.Qxg5 Be8 24.Nh4 Bf6
25.Qh5 1-0.
The inclusion of 11...a6 12.a4 is
only in Whites favour.
12.Nd2!
This line had been assessed
as clearly better for White on the
ground of 12.f4 Neg4?! 13.Bxg4
Nxg4 14.Qxg4 exd5 15.f5 d4 16.Nd5
dxe3 17.Nfxe3 Bxb2 (17...Bh6 18.0-0
Qg5 19.Qh3 Kg7 20.Rf4 Rh8
21.Ng4 Qd8 22.Qc3+ f6 23.Nxh6
Rxh6 24.fxg6 Rxg6 25.Nxf6 1-0
Cheparinov-Vavric, Varna 2012)
18.0-0 with a strong initiative. Tomashevsky-Ponomariov, Rogaska
Slatina 2011, went 18...Bxa1 19.Rxa1
Kg7 20.Rf1 Rh8 21.Qf4 g5 22.Qf3 f6
23.Ng4 Rf8 24.Qe3 Bd7 25.Ndxf6
Rxf6 26.Qxg5+ Kf7 27.e5 dxe5
28.Rd1 Rxf5 29.Nh6+ Kf8 30.Qg8+
Ke7 31.Qh7+ 1-0. Then, like a bolt
out of the blue, Grischuk dealt a terrible blow on the whole line against
Svidler, London 2013: 12...Nxc4!!
13.Bxc4 b5!!. Look at this important theoretical Game 16 in the
Complete Games chapter.
12...exd5 13.cxd5 a6
120
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvl-0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+pzpPsn-+-0
9-+-+P+-zp0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-sNL+PzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwqr+k+0
9+-+l+pvl-0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+p+P+-+-0
9-+p+PzP-vL0
9zP-sNn+-+P0
9-zPQsNL+P+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+-+l+pvl-0
9pwq-zp-snp+0
9+p+P+-vL-0
9-+-+P+-zp0
9zP-sNp+P+P0
9-zP-sN-+PmK0
9tR-+Q+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
20.Bxh4!
121
Part 4
20...Nh5 21.Bf2 Qd8 (21...Qc7
22.Be3 f5 23.exf5 Bxf5 24.Nde4
Be5+ 25.Kg1) 22.Be3 f5 23.exf5 Re8
24.Nde4 Be5+ 25.Kg1 gxf5 26.f4
Nxf4 27.Bxf4 fxe4 28.Qh5 Bd4+
29.Kh1 Qe7 30.Bh6.
17.Kh2 Nh5 18.f4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+-+-+pvl-0
9pwq-zp-+p+0
9+p+Psn-vLn0
9-+p+PzP-zp0
9+-sN-+-+P0
9PzP-sNL+PmK0
9tR-+Q+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
18...Nd3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+-vln0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpPsnp+-0
9-+-+P+-zp0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQLsNPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wqr+k+0
9+-+l+pvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9P+p+PzP-+0
9+-sN-vLQsNP0
9-zP-+-+P+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-+l+pvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+pzpPsn-+-0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLPsNP0
9-zP-+L+P+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
14...Rb8
Part 4
I think that the text is more challenging than 15.axb5 Bxb5
15...axb5 16.f4 Nc4 17.Bxc4 bxc4
18.e5 Re8 19.Qf3 Rxb2 20.exf6 Qxf6
21.Rac1 Qd8 occurred in the game
Zhou Jianchao-Fedoseev, Moscow
2011. Black was struggling for the
draw after 22.Bf2 f5 23.Rfe1 Qa5
24.Rxe8+ Bxe8 25.Nd1.
Bologan assesses the position
after 16.Nxb5 axb5 17.b3 as acceptable for Black.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+pzpPsn-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+P+-vLPsNP0
9-+-+L+P+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wq-trk+0
9+-+l+pvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9P+p+PzP-+0
9+-sN-vL-sNP0
9-zP-wQ-+P+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+ntrk+0
9+-+lwqp+p0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpPvlP+-0
9P+p+P+-+0
9+-sN-vL-+P0
9-zP-wQN+P+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wqntrk+0
9+-+l+pvlp0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpPzP-+-0
9P+p+NzP-+0
9+rsN-vL-+P0
9-zP-wQ-+P+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
19...f5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+-+pvln0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpPsn-+p0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLPsN-0
9-zP-+L+PzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
125
Part 4
14.Qd2
I do not like 14.h3 not only
due to the hole on g3, but because
the pawn takes the best square of
our unfortunate knight after 14...
h4 15.Nh1 f5 16.exf5 gxf5 17.f4 Ng6
18.Bh5 Qf6.
14...h4
14...Re8 is seldom seen, because
it is arguable that Blacks rook
stands better on the e-file. White
can fix the queenside: 15.a5 h4
16.Nh1 f5 17.Nf2 Bd7 18.Na4 Bb5
19.Nb6 Bxe2 20.Qxe2 Rb8 21.Ra4
Rajkovic-Prelevic, Belgrade 2005,
when simplest is 21.Rab1 aiming
for b4.
15.Nh1 f5
15...g5 is passive. White can
build up play on the queenside by
either 16.a5 or 16.Nf2 Bd7 17.a5
126
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+-+-vln0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpPsnp+-0
9P+-+P+-zp0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQLsNPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 4
Complete Games
15. Bruzon-Soto
Havana, 29.04.2013
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3
Bg7 4.e4 0-0 5.Be3 d6 6.f3 c5
7.Nge2 Nc6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Ng3
h5 10.Be2 h4 11.Nf1 e6 12.Nd2
exd5 13.cxd5 a6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+-+pvl-0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpPsn-+-0
9-+-+P+-zp0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-sNL+PzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
14.0-0!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqr+k+0
9+-+-+pvl-0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+pzpPsn-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9zP-sN-vLPzPp0
9-zP-sNL+-zP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 4
Nf6 29.Nde4) 24.Qxh3 although
the extra pawn does not guarantee White a substantial advantage:
24...Ng6 25.Bd1 Nf4 26.Bxf4 gxf4
27.Ne2 Be5 28.Qh6 Qe7 29.Kh1
Qf6 30.Qxf6 Nxf6 31.h4.
22.a4 bxa4 23.Nxa4 a5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trl+rwqk+0
9+-+-+pvl-0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9zp-zpPsn-vL-0
9N+-+P+-+0
9+P+-+PzPp0
9-+-sNLtR-zP0
9+-tR-+QmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvl-0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+pzpPsn-+-0
9-+-+P+-zp0
9zP-sN-vLP+P0
9-zP-sNL+P+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwq-trk+0
9+-+n+pvl-0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+pzpPsn-+-0
9-zP-+P+-zp0
9zP-sN-vLP+-0
9-+-sNL+PzP0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
17...g5?!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvl-0
9p+Pzpl+-+0
9+-zpN+-zp-0
9-zPp+P+-zp0
9zP-+-vLP+-0
9-+-+-+PzP0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pvl-0
9-+-zppsnp+0
9+-zpPsn-+-0
9-+P+PzP-zp0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzP-+L+PzP0
9tR-+QmKN+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...Nxc4!!
I remember Kasparov mentioning in an interview that he had analysed this sacrifice, but the credit to
introduce it in practice belongs to
Grischuk. He put his fate in it at the
129
Part 4
most important competition of the
year the Candidates tournament.
I suspect that we should burry the
whole line with 12.f4.
13.Bxc4 b5!! 14.Bxb5 exd5
15.e5!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zp-+-+pvl-0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+LzppzP-+-0
9-+-+-zP-zp0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKN+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+q+k+0
9zp-+-+p+-0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+-zp-vl-+-0
9-+-zpN+-zp0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKN+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-tr-+-+0
9zp-+-+pmk-0
9-+-+-+p+0
9+LvLp+-+-0
9-+-+-+-wq0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+-+RzP0
9+-+R+K+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
24.Rd4
17. Antipov-Matlakov
St. Petersburg, 31.10.2012
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.f3 g6 4.c4
Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Be3 c5 7.Nge2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+p+l+pvl-0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpPsn-+p0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLPsN-0
9-zP-+L+PzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-+l+pvl-0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+pzpPsn-+-0
9P+-+P+-zp0
9+-sN-vLP+P0
9-zP-+L+P+0
9tR-+Q+RmKN0
xiiiiiiiiy
16.Qd2
131
Part 4
16.Bg5 b4 17.Nb1 c4 18.Bxh4
(18.f4? Qb6+ 19.Nf2 Nxe4 20.Bxh4
Nd3 was awful for White in Gun
davaa-Guseinov, Moscow 2012)
18...Re8 19.f4 Nd3 20.Bxd3 cxd3
21.Qxd3 Rxe4 22.Nd2 Re8 gave
Black fair compensation for the
pawn, Giri-Radjabov, Wijk aan Zee
2012.
16...b4 17.Nd1 a5 18.Bg5 c4
19.Nhf2 Qe8 20.Bxh4. So I have
obtained a clear edge against a
high-rated grandmaster. Home
analysis, however, showed that after 16.Qd2 Black could have played
stronger:
16...Nh5!? 17.axb5 (17.Bg5 Bf6
18.Bh6 Re8) 17...axb5 18.Rxa8
Qxa8 19.Bg5 b4 20.Nd1 f5. White
will eat the h4-pawn, but all his
pieces are alarmingly passive.
Thus I came to the conclusion
that White should not weaken the
dark-squared complex around his
king.
A decent alternative seems to
be:
b) 14.Nh1 b5 15.Nf2 b4?! (principled, but dubious) 16.Nb1 c4
17.Bd4 Rc8 18.Nd2 c3 19.bxc3 bxc3
20.Nb3. Black is overextended
and his c-pawn is doomed, Vitiugov-Cheparinov, Plovdiv 2012. In
this game, Topalovs assistant lost
the opening battle, despite his
enormous erudition. Six moths later, however, in Moiseenko-Mamedov, Istanbul 2012, Black improved
with:
15...Nh7!
132
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-+l+pvln0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+pzpPsn-+p0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-+LsNPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqr+k+0
9+-+l+pvl-0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpPsn-+-0
9p+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLPzPp0
9-zP-+LsN-zP0
9tR-tRQ+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvl-0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+LzpPsn-+-0
9-+-+P+-zp0
9+-+-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQ-+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmKN0
xiiiiiiiiy
18...h3
Bh6
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9wq-+-+p+-0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpPsn-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-wQP+-0
9-zP-+LsNKzP0
9+-tR-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 4
This move leaves Whites queen
passive. 31.Qg3 Nh5 32.Bxh5 Qxh5
33.Ra1 Nf6 34.f5 keeps a small
edge.
31...Ra8 (31...Nh5+!=) 32.Qc3
Qh8 33.Kh3 Kh7 34.Ra1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-wq0
9+-+n+p+k0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+-+PzP-zP0
9+PwQ-+-+K0
9-+-+LsN-+0
9tR-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+-+-vln0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpPsnp+-0
9P+-+P+-zp0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQLsNPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
a) 16...Bd7 17.a5
134
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwqr+-mk0
9+p+-+-vln0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpPsnp+-0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLPzp-0
9-zP-wQLsN-zP0
9tR-+-+-tRK0
xiiiiiiiiy
20.hxg3! Naturally, White is
happy to open the h-file in his
favour. Bologan considers only
20.Rxg3. 20...Bd7 21.Kg2 Kg8
22.Rh1 Nf6 23.Bh6 and Whites
game is obviously better, because
his king is safer, e.g. 23...Nf7
24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.exf5.
b2) 17.Rfe1 (Dreev opted for
17.Rae1 with similar ideas, but I do
not think that we need a rook on
f1.) 17...Rb8 (17...Bd7 18.exf5 gxf5
19.a5) 18.exf5.
16...Qf6
According to my database, this
move has been played in 13 games.,
despite the fact that White is clearly
better after the most principled
17.f4 Nf7 (17...Ng4 18.Nxg4 fxg4
19.e5) 18.e5 dxe5 19.Bxc5. How
ever, Black can sacrifice the exchange with 19...e4 or 19...exf4 to
obtain some counter-chances. I
decided to play it safe and take a
stable edge with the help of the thematic plan:
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+r+k+0
9+p+-+-vln0
9p+-zp-wqn+0
9+-zpP+p+-0
9P+-+-zP-zp0
9+-sN-vL-+N0
9-zP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 4
23...Nhf8 24.Rb3 Bc8 25.Na4 Bd7
26.Nxc5! when 26...dxc5 loses to
27.Rb6!+.
20...Bd7 21.a5 Rab8 22.Kh1
Bh6
Black has not any compensation
for the pawn after 22...b5 23.axb6
Rxb6 24.Rxa6 Rxa6 25.Bxa6, Khen
kin-Nijboer, Netherlands 2010.
23.Bh5 Nhf8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+rsnk+0
9+p+l+-+-0
9p+-zp-wqnvl0
9zP-zpP+p+L0
9-+-+-zP-zp0
9+-sN-+-+N0
9-zP-wQ-vLPzP0
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
24.Rg1!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+lsnk+0
9+p+-+-tr-0
9p+-zp-wqnvl0
9zP-zpP+p+L0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-sN-+-tRN0
9-zP-wQ-vL-zP0
9+-+-+-tRK0
xiiiiiiiiy
28.b4!
136
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+p+l+-vln0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-zpPsnp+-0
9P+-+P+-zp0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQLsNPzP0
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwqr+k+0
9+p+-+nvln0
9p+-zp-+-+0
9+-zpP+lzp-0
9P+-+N+-zp0
9+-+LvLP+-0
9-zP-wQ-sNPzP0
9+-+-tR-tRK0
xiiiiiiiiy
23.a5)
20. Dreev-Laksana
Jakarta 13.10.2011
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7
4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Nge2 c5 7.Be3
Qa5 8.Nc1 cxd4 9.Nb3
137
Part 4
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9wq-+-+-+-0
9-+PzpP+-+0
9+NsN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...Qd8
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-tr-+0
9+p+nzp-mkp0
9p+-zpl+p+0
9wq-+-+p+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+PsN-+-+-0
9P+-+L+PzP0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+rwq-+k+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PvLPzP-+0
9+PsN-+-+-0
9P+-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+n+k+0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+l+p+p+0
9wq-+-zP-+-0
9-+PvL-+L+0
9+PsN-wQ-+-0
9P+-+-+PzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+p+-zppvlp0
9-+lzp-snp+0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+PvLP+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.Kh1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-tr-+0
9+p+nzp-mkp0
9-+-zp-zpp+0
9+-wqP+-+-0
9p+P+-zP-+0
9+-+-tR-+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9+-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-tr-+0
9+p+nzppmkp0
9-wqlzp-+p+0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9+-+-tRR+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
16...Rae8
Part 4
when 18.a3 Qc5 19.Nd5 would
have forced the exchange on d5:
19...Bxd5 20.exd5 Rfe8 21.f5. Or
16...Nf6 17.Bf3 Rad8 18.Nd5 Bxd5
19.exd5.
The only drawback of our target
set-up with exd5 is that our lightsquared bishop has not any prospects. Therefore, it is a good idea to
trade it at an opportunity:
16...a4 17.Bg4 Rad8?! 18.Bxd7
Rxd7 19.f5 Qc5 20.Qd3 Qe5 21.b4
axb3 22.axb3 Kg8 23.Nd5,
Eljanov-Zhigalko, Artek 1999.
17.Rf3 f5 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.Rb3
Qd8 20.exd5 Nc5 21.Re3
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wqrtr-+0
9+p+-zp-mkp0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9zp-snP+p+-0
9-+P+-zP-+0
9+-+-tR-+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9+-+-tR-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+p+nzppvlp0
9-+lzp-+p+0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+PvLP+-+0
9+PsN-+P+-0
9P+-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+-wqk+0
9+p+-zppvl-0
9-+lzp-+p+0
9zp-sn-+-+p0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+PsN-vLP+-0
9P+RwQ-+PzP0
9+-+-tRLmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
e6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+rwq-+-+0
9+p+-+pvlk0
9-+lzpp+p+0
9zp-sn-+-+p0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+PsN-vLPzPL0
9P+RwQ-+-zP0
9+R+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
141
Part 4
21.Rd1 Be5 22.Nb5 Qf8
23.Qe2 Rd8 24.Bg5 Rd7 25.Nd4
f5 26.Nxc6 bxc6 27.Be3 Qe7
Black has to worry about multiple weaknesses the c6-, d6- and
the a5-pawn, the knight on c5 is
hanging. An alternative was 27...
Rdd8 28.f4 Bg7 29.exf5 exf5 30.Bg2
Rac8 31.Bf2 a4 32.b4 Re8 33.Qd2.
Black can alter the pawn structure
in the centre by 33...Ne4 34.Bxe4
fxe4 35.Bd4, but we know from
the previous game that White retains an edge in it.
28.Bg2
28.Rcd2 Rad8 29.exf5 exf5
30.Bf2 Nb7 31.f4 allows the manoeuvre 31...Bc3! 32.Qxe7+ Rxe7
33.Rd3 Bb4! and Black has everything defended: 34.Bg2 Rc8 35.Bf3
Kg8 36.Kf1 Kf7=.
28...Bg7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-+0
9+-+rwq-vlk0
9-+pzpp+p+0
9zp-sn-+p+p0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+P+-vLPzP-0
9P+R+Q+LzP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
29.Rcd2?!
23. Svetushkin-Dochev
Aghios Kirykos 16.07.2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7
4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Nge2 Nbd7
7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 c5 9.dxc5 dxc5
10.Rd1 Qc7 11.Nf4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+pwqnzppvlp0
9p+-+-snp+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+P+PsN-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9+-+RmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...e6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+ntrk+0
9+lwq-+pvlp0
9pzp-+p+p+0
9+-zp-zP-+P0
9-+P+-zP-+0
9+-sNLvL-+-0
9PzP-wQ-+P+0
9+-+RmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
18...f5
143
Part 4
144
Part 5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-zppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
145
Part 5
Part 5
Main Ideas
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-zppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwqr+k+0
9+-zpnsnpvlp0
9-zp-zp-+p+0
9zp-+Pzp-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLPzP-0
9PzP-wQN+LzP0
9+R+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+rwqk+0
9+pzpl+pvl-0
9p+nzppsnp+0
9+-+-+-+p0
9-+PzPPzP-+0
9+-+-vL-zP-0
9PzP-wQNsNLzP0
9+-tR-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wqntrk+0
9+-+lsn-vlp0
9pzp-zp-+p+0
9+-zpPzpp+-0
9-zPP+P+-+0
9+-+-vLPzP-0
9P+-wQNsNLzP0
9+-tR-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+pzp-zppvlp0
9p+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQN+PzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 5
orders. It has other merits, too it
is simple to learn and not popular
so you have a fair chance to surprise
your opponent. In short, it consists
of playing 9.Rc1 followed up by b3:
8...Rb8 9.Rc1 Bd7
In the event of 9...Re8 10.b3
e6, White completes development
and preserves his space advantage: 11.g3 Bd7 12.Bg2 b5 13.Nd1
bxc4 14.bxc4 Rb4 (14...Bc8 15.0-0
Nd7 16.f4 Ne7 17.Nf2 f5 18.e5 Nb6
19.Nd3) 15.Nb2, Khairullin-Sebenik, Plovdiv 2012.
10.b3!? (Part 6, line A)
This position may also occur after the move order 8...Bd7 9.b3 Rb8
10.Rc1.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wq-trk+0
9+pzplzppvlp0
9p+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+PsN-vLP+-0
9P+-wQN+PzP0
9+-tR-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This move protects the c4square and threatens with d5, e.g.
10...Re8 11.d5 Ne5 (11...Na5 12.c5)
12.h3 Bc8 13.f4 Ned7 14.g4 c5
15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Bg2, ZaltsmanSpraggett, New York 1983.
10...b5 11.cxb5 axb5 12.d5
Ne5 13.Nd4 Qe8 14.a3 e6 15.Be2
exd5 16.exd5
148
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+qtrk+0
9+-zpl+pvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+p+Psn-+-0
9-+-sN-+-+0
9zPPsN-vLP+-0
9-+-wQL+PzP0
9+-tR-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Whites pieces are better coordinated. The game Van der SterrenBarlov, Dieren 1986, went further
16...b4 17.axb4 Rxb4 18.0-0 c5
19.dxc6 Nxc6 when 20.Nxc6 Bxc6
21.Bc4 will probably transform
sooner or later into a technical position with opposite coloured bishops and an extra pawn for White.
Advanced Reading
If you want to learn more about the
Panno Variation and get acquainted
with other plans for White, the following lines will provide you with
important conclusions you should
know.
In his book Playing 1.d4, Lars
Schandorff advocates 7...a6 8.Qd2
Rb8 9.Rc1 Bd7 10.Nd1 e6 11.Nf2 Re8
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wqr+k+0
9+pzpl+pvlp0
9p+nzppsnp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-+-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQNsNPzP0
9+-tR-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-zplzppvlp0
9p+nzp-snp+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+PzP0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQN+-+0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wq-trk+0
9+-zplzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+p+Psn-+-0
9-zP-sNP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9P+-wQ-+PzP0
9+R+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwqr+k+0
9+-zp-zppvlp0
9p+nzp-snp+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+PzP0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQN+-+0
9+-mKR+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wqr+k+0
9+-zpl+pvlp0
9p+nzppsnp+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+PsN-vLPzP-0
9P+-wQN+LzP0
9+-+RmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
149
Part 5
13.e5!
15.Bd4.
dxe5
14.dxe5
Nxe5
Svetushkin-Golubev
blitz playchess.com 2004
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+rwqk+0
9+pzpl+pvl-0
9p+nzppsnp+0
9+-+-+-+p0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-+-vLPzP-0
9PzP-wQNsNLzP0
9+-tR-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wqr+k+0
9+-zpl+pvlp0
9p+nzppsnp+0
9+-+-zP-+-0
9r+PzP-+-+0
9+-+NvLPzP-0
9P+-wQN+-zP0
9+-tR-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Analysis
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqr+k+0
9+pzpl+pvlp0
9-+-zppsnp+0
9zpP+-+-+-0
9PsnPzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9-+-wQN+PzP0
9+R+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wqr+k+0
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14...g5!
The outcome of the game depends on the tempi while pawns do
not count. It is more important to
stall Whites attack.
15.Bxg5 e5 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.fxg4
exd4 18.g5 Qf3 19.g6 Bg4!=.
Solozhenkin-Riera Sola
Manresa 1993
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151
Part 5
Part 5
Step by Step
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4
d6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Be3 Nc6 7.Nge2
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A. 7...Re8; B. 7...a6
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It may seem that now the headon attack with 12.Bh6 should be
decisive. Indeed, over the board
it is easier to attack. However, detailed analysis shows unclear positions after 12...b5!
12...Bh8? 13.g4 is crushing, for
example: 12...b5 13.gxh5 Nxh5
14.Nf4 Nxf4 15.Bxf4 b4 16.Ne2
e5 17.Bg5 Bf6 18.d5; 12...e5
153
Part 5
13.Bg5 exd4 14.Nd5 Ne5 15.gxh5
Nxf3 16.Bxf6 Nxd2 17.Bxd8 Nxf1
18.Bxc7+ Miniboeck-F.Portisch,
Vienna 1986.
12.g4 e5 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.g5
Nd7 15.f4 (15.cxb5 axb5 16.f4 Nb6)
15...Nb6 16.cxb5 axb5, Knaak-F.
Portisch, Trnava 1981.
I prefer to trust Karpovs intuition and recommend a solid positional approach:
11.Nf4 e5
The fine point of Whites set-up
is that 11...b5 fails to 12.cxb5 axb5
13.Bxb5 Bd7 14.Bxc6 Bxc6 15.e5.
Therefore, Black has to concede a
small, but stable edge in the endgame after:
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154
B. 7...a6 8.Qd2
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9...Nd7
This novelty has been introduced in the game Kanarek-Guseinov, Legnica 2013. White chose
10.Rb1, but 10...Nc6 11.N1e2 Na5
apparently surprised him. Indeed,
11.b4 e5 12.d5 Nd4 13.N1e2 Nh5
would be unclear.
We are still to see Guseinovs
idea against the natural:
10.Be2!?. Then 10...Rb8 11.0-0 b5
12.Nxb5 should be good for White
due to his better pawn structure.
10.Be2!
The most accurate move order.
It confines Blacks options to symmetric pawn structures only, which
are clearly better for White. However, 10.Nb3 right away also leads
to a Whites edge: 10...Nxb3 (10...c5
11.dxc5 Nxb3 transposes) 11.axb3
c5 12.dxc5! Nxc5 13.Ra3 Be6 14.Be2
(14.b4 Nd7 15.b3) 14...a5 15.0-0
b6 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.cxd5 f5 18.exf5
Rxf5 19.Bb5, Dreev-Vorobiov, Loo
2013.
10...c5 11.dxc5 dxc5 12.Nb3
Nxb3 (12...b5?! 13.Rd1!) 13.axb3
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155
Part 5
White has a space advantage
and his pieces are positioned harmoniously. He can develop activity
on either flank or even open the hfile and leave his king in the centre.
For example: 13...b6 14.Rd1 Re8
15.h4!? (15.b4) 15...e6 16.h5 Qc7
17.hxg6 fxg6 18.f4.
B2. 8...Re8
B21. 9.h4; B22. 9.0-0-0!?; B23.
9.a3; B24. 9.Rb1
I have recently played here
9.g4!?. This move is thoroughly
sound and should transpose to line
B22 after 9...Rb8 10.0-0-0 or 10.h4
h5 11.gxh5! (The kingside should
be opened up. 11.g5 Nd7 12.f4 b5
13.f5 is not too effective.) 11...Nxh5
12.0-0-0! b5 13.Rg1.
9...e5 would be an independent
variation: 10.d5 Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4
12.Bxd4 Bxg4 13.Bxf6! and White
should neutralise the attack. If you
feel awkwardly with a shaky king,
then you should sidestep this option by 9.0-0-0.
B21. 9.h4 h5!
This move makes the difference,
compared to line B22, where White
attacks with 9.0-0-0 b5 10.g4!?.
9...Rb8 is worse: 10.h5 b5
10...Nxh5 gives White a self-rolling attack: 11.Bh6 b5 12.Bxg7 Kxg7
13.g4 exd4 14.Nd5 Ne5 15.Bg2 Nf6
16.Qh6+ Kg8 17.Nef4 c6 18.g5.
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10.0-0-0 b5 11.Nd5
11.Nf4 bxc4 12.Bxc4 e5 13.dxe5
Nxe5 14.Be2 Rb8 leads to a complex position with mutual chances.
11...bxc4 12.Nxf6+
13.g4 hxg4 14.h5
Bxf6
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14...g5!
B22. 9.0-0-0!? b5
The only way to use the move
order with 9.0-0-0 instead of 9.g4
is 9...Na5, but 10.Nf4 b5 11.e5! is
rather grim for Black: 11...Nd7
12.e6 Nb6 13.exf7+ Kxf7 14.b3 bxc4
15.Ne4 Nc6 16.d5 Ne5 17.h4.
12...Bd7 looks a bit strange here.
We can follow the receipt from the
main line with 13.h4 h5 14.gxh5
Nxh5 15.Rg1.
10.g4 Rb8 11.h4
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11...Na5
Part 5
12...Nxh5 13.Rg1!. White gets a
strong attack with natural straightforward moves, for instance, 13...e5
14.Bg5 Qd7 15.Ng3 Nxg3 16.Rxg3
Nxd4 17.h5 c6 18.Bh6 Qe7 19.hxg6
f5 20.Bg5 Qe6 21.Qh2.
12.Ng3 Nxc4
12...bxc4 is very difficult as Black
does not get any counterplay after
13.h5!, e.g. 13...c6 when 14.hxg6 is
simplest to avoid ...g5.
12...c5 may pay off if White continues with 13.h5 cxd4 14.Bxd4 Nc6
15.hxg6 hxg6 16.Be3 and now 16...
Qa5! leads to very sharp positions:
17.Bh6 Bh8 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.gxf5 b4
20.Nb1 Qxa2 21.Qg2 Ne5 22.fxg6
fxg6 23.f4 Neg4 24.e5 dxe5 25.fxe5
Nxe5 26.Bf4 Nxc4 27.Bxb8=.
However, 13.dxc5 Nxc4 (13...
Nxg4 14.fxg4) 14.Bxc4 bxc4 15.h5
Qa5 16.c6 is crushing.
13.Bxc4 bxc4 14.h5
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10...Rb8
Part 5
Here is an instructive example:
11.a4 a5! 12.b5 Nb4 13.e5 (13.Nc1
is innocuous here, because the
rook is still on a8 to protect the
a5-pawn after 13...e5 14.dxe5 dxe5
15.Nb3 Be6=.) 13...dxe5 14.dxe5
Nh5! 15.g4 Bxe5 16.gxh5 Qh4+
17.Bf2 Qxh5 and suddenly Black
develops a strong initiative. White
can castle, but 18.Bg2 Rad8 19.Ng3
Qh4 20.0-0 Bxb5 21.Qe2 Bxc3
22.cxb5 Nd3 23.Qe4 Qh6 24.Be3
Qxe3+ 25.Qxe3 Bd4 26.Qxd4 Rxd4
27.Rfd1 Red8 28.Bf1 Nf4 is roughly
equal. The best reply is:
11.g3!, covering the check from
h4 and intending to meet 11...Rb8
by 12.a4 a5 13.b5 Nb4 14.e5 dxe5
15.dxe5 Nh5 16.f4.
11.a4!
11.Nc1 e5 12.d5 Nd4 13.Nb3 c6!
(or 13...Nxb3?! 14.Rxb3 c6 15.Be2
with a clear plan for pressure along
the b-file in Knaak-Csulits, Strausberg 1971.) 14.Nxd4 exd4 15.Bxd4
cxd5 16.cxd5 Nxe4 17.fxe4 Rxe4+
18.Nxe4 Qh4+ 19.Ng3 Bxd4 is dangerous for White. Black has a lasting initiative for the exchange.
11.g3 gives the enemy time for
11...b5 12.cxb5 axb5 13.Bg2 e5 14.d5
Ne7 with sufficient counterplay
in the centre, e.g. 15.g4 c6 16.dxc6
Bxc6 17.g5 Nh5 18.Rd1 Nc8, heading for c4.
11...a5 12.b5 Nb4 13.Nc1
The blitz game Dreev-Golubev,
2004, saw 13.Ng3 e5 14.d5 b6
160
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B3. 8...Bd7!?
This most flexible move is coming into fashion again. A few decades
ago, Black put his hopes mainly in
the break on the queenside with
...Rb8, b7-b5. In modern times, he
is often experimenting with the manoeuvre ...Qb8, leaving the rook on
a8, or with kingside plans.
For instance, after the old-fashioned:
a) 9.Nc1, Smirin played against
Bocharov in Moscow 2010 9...Nh5
10.d5 Ne5 11.Be2 f5 12.exf5 gxf5
13.Bh6 when 13...Bxh6 14.Qxh6
Qe8 would have lead to a balanced
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10...e5!
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Part 5
2. 10...Na5 11.Nf4!
It is important to take e6 under control in order to prevent 11...
c5 12.dxc5 Be6. Instead, 11.Ng3 c5
12.g5 Nh5 13.Nxh5 gxh5 14.dxc5
Be6 15.cxd6 Nxc4 16.Bxc4 Bxc4
17.Rd1 was also better for White,
Vitiugov-Novikov, Dagomys 2010.
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162
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10...Rb8
9...Rb8
9...Re8 transposes to line B24.
10.b4 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 12.d5
Ne5 13.Nd4
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13...e6
163
Part 5
Part 5
Complete Games
24. Timman-Marovic
Amsterdam 1973
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4 d6
4.d4 Bg7 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 Nc6
7.Nge2 Rb8 8.Qd2 Re8 9.Rb1 a5
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10.g3
I do not like too much the fianchetto because the bishop is passive
on g2 and it does not control the
important diagonal f1-a6. However,
Black has renounced any ideas with
...b5 and he obviously has in mind
...e5 followed up by ...f5. Against
this set-up, g3 is a perfect choice.
10...Nd7 11.Bg2 e5 12.d5 Ne7
13.0-0 b6 14.a3 Ba6 15.b3 f5
16.Nb5 Nf6
This game is a good example of
how impotent is the typical Kings
Indian attack against the Smish
fianchetto. The only way to find
some employment to the e7-knight
164
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Part 6
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165
Part 6
Part 6
Step by Step
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9.Rc1
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b) 9...Re8 10.Nd1
10.b3 is a good alternative. Then
10...Bd7 11.d5! takes advantage of
the fact that c4 is protected. 10...b5
is impossible because of the hanging knight on c6. Remains: 10...
e6 11.g3 Bd7 (11...Ne7 12.Bg2 b5
13.cxb5 axb5 14.0-0 Ba6 15.Rc2 Qd7
16.Rfc1 Rec8 17.Nd1 Ne8 18.Nf2 f5
19.Nf4, Gupta-Das, London 2011)
12.Bg2 b5 13.Nd1 bxc4 14.bxc4
Rb4 (14...Bc8 15.0-0 Nd7 16.f4
Ne7 17.Nf2 f5 18.e5 Nb6 19.Nd3)
15.Nb2, Khairullin-Sebenik, Plov
div 2012.
10...e6 (10...Bd7 11.Nf2 is co
vered in Game 25 SvetushkinGolubev) 11.Nf2
The game Vitiugov-Ganguly,
Khanty-Mansiysk 2010, saw 11.g3
Ne7 12.Bg2 b5 13.c5 b4 (13...dxc5
14.Rxc5 e5 15.d5 Bb7 16.Qc1) 14.Nf2
a5 15.0-0 Ba6 16.Rfd1 Nd7 when
17.Nd3!, providing a retreat square
for the e3-bishop after 17...d5 (17...
dxc5 18.Nxc5 or 17...Bxd3 18.Qxd3
dxc5 19.f4! cxd4 20.Nxd4 are inferior alternatives) 18.e5, would
be better for White. However, 11...
Part 6
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Whites pieces are better co-ordinated. The game Khairullin-Demchenko, Yekaterinburg 2013, went
further 16...b4 17.axb4 Rxb4 18.0-0
Part 6
11.g3 b6 12.Bg2 e5 13.d5 Ne7
14.0-0 Nh5 (14...h5 15.Nf2 Nh7
16.f4 f5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Bh6, Blanco Gramajo-Aldrete Lobo, ICCF
email 2006) 15.g4 Nf6 16.Ng3 Ne8
17.Nc3 c6 (or 17...f5 18.gxf5 gxf5
19.f4).
b) 10...Re8 11.Nf2 is covered in
my Game 25 Svetushkin-Golubev,
blitz, Canarias en Red 2004.
c) 10...Ne8 11.Nf2 e5 12.d5 Ne7
13.g3 transposes to line B1.
B1. 10...e5 11.d5 Ne7
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12.g3
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12...b4
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171
Part 6
13.Nd3 a5 14.g3 Ne7 15.Bg2 Bb5
16.0-0 Nd7 17.Rfd1, KhairullinGorovykh, St. Petersburg 2010.
Sometimes White inserts 13.h4
h5, but it does not change significantly the set-up.
The plan of the Bulgarian GM
M.Nikolov is more natural.
13...a5 14.Bd3 Ne7 15.0-0
Bb5 16.Ne2 Nd7 17.cxd6 cxd6
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XIIIIIIIIY
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15...Ra4!
A purely computer move! Sriram-Adhiban, Mangalore 2008,
saw the more logical 15...Qb8, but
then White could have attacked in
the centre by 16.Nd3 Ra4 17.e5.
After the text, White is unable to
hold the c4-square. For instance:
16.Rc3 (16.0-0 Na5) 16...Na5
17.Qc2 d5 18.e5 Nxc4 19.exf6 Qxf6
20.0-0 Qe7 21.Bc1 e5 with strong
pressure for the piece.
13.c5 enters a known variation
which assures Black of sufficient
counterplay: 13...dxc5 14.Rxc5 Bf8
15.Rc1 e5 16.d5 Bb4 17.Nc3 Nd4.
13...axb5 14.Bg2
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Black generates sufficient counterplay down the a-file which compensates for Whites supremacy in
the centre.
14...Ra8! (14...Qc8?! 15.0-0
Qa6 16.b3 Rec8 17.Nd3 b4 18.Rc2
e5 19.dxe5 Nxe5 20.Nxb4 Qb5
21.Nd5 B.Socko-Koepke, St. Veit
2012) 15.b3 Ra3 16.0-0 Qa8 17.Rc2
Qa6
This position occurred in Grigoriants-Sale, Abu Dhabi 2005. White
chose 18.f4 when 18...Ra8 19.Nc3
b4 20.Na4 Rb8 21.Rfc1 Ne8 would
have been nice for Black in view of
the threat of ...Ne7. Schandorff puts
his hope in the move:
18.Nd3, giving the line 18...Ra8
19.Nc3 (19.Nec1 Qa5 20.Qf2 Rd8
21.Rd1 Re8=) 19...b4 20.Na4,
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Part 6
b) 12.g4!? If Black follows the
scheme with 12.g3, White has more
options for developing an initiative:
12...b5 13.cxb5 axb5 14.Bg2 Ra8
15.b3 Ra3 16.0-0 Qa8 17.Rc2 Qa6
18.g5! Nh5 19.Rfc1 Ra8 20.f4.
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174
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Part 6
Complete Games
25. Svetushkin-Golubev
blitz, Canarias en Red 2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7
4.e4 d6 5.Nge2 0-0 6.f3 a6
7.Be3 Nc6 8.Qd2 Rb8 9.Rc1 Bd7
10.Nd1 Re8
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11...h5?!
Golubev opts for a waiting game,
but it allows White to complete development at leisure and secure
a clear edge. The most consistent
continuation is:
11...b5 12.c5
Blacks tenth move will be rewarded in the event of 12.cxb5 axb5
13.Ng3 (13.Nc3 e5 14.d5 Nd4) 13...
e5 14.d5 Nd4 15.Bd3 c5 16.dxc6
Nxc6 or 12.b3 bxc4 13.bxc4 Rb7
14.g3 Qb8 15.Nd3 e5 16.d5 Nd4.
12...dxc5 (or 12...e6 13.Nd3 Qe7
14.g3) 13.Rxc5 e5 (13...e6 14.Nd3)
14.d5 Ne7
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15.Qc1!
Part 6
Nc8 17.Nb4 and got an advantage
after 17...Bf8? 18.Nxa6 Ra8 19.Nc7.
The idea of sacrificing the exchange
is very good, but it should be shaped
differently: 17...Rb6! 18.Rc1 Bf8
with excellent compensation.
15...Bf8
15...Rb7 is too passive: 16.Rc2!
(Vacating c5 for the f2-knight. We
see here the merit of 15.Qc1 compared to 15.Qc2.) 16...Qa8 17.g4!
(17.Nd3 c6 18.dxc6 Nxc6 19.Rxc6
Bxc6 20.Qxc6 Rc8 21.Qd6 was
rather messy in Khenkin-Sebenik,
Plovdiv 2012. Black should have
played here 21...Rd7! 22.Qa3 Bf8.)
17...b4 18.Ng3.
16.Bg5
White is undeveloped so he
should try to keep the centre closed:
16.Rxc7 Nexd5 17.exd5 Bb4+
18.Rc3 Nxd5;
16.Rc2 c6 17.Bg5 Kg7 18.Bh6+
Kg8 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.dxc6 Qa5+;
16.Nd3 Nexd5 17.exd5 Bxc5
18.Nxc5 Nxd5 19.Bg5 f6 20.Bd2
Qe7.
16...Nc8 17.Rc2 Bb4+
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18.Nc3!
176
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Black has succeeded in trading the d5-pawn at last, but that
does not bring him equality. All
his minor pieces are unstable, the
e5-pawn is weak, the a6-pawn can
also become a target after a possible
a2-a4. Exchanges do not help since
they only leave the weak pawns
without defence. Here are two
possible scenarios for the further
course of the game:
21.Be2 Nb6 (21...Nd6 22.0-0
b4 23.Nb1 Ba4 24.b3 Bb5 25.Bxb5
Nxb5 26.Rd1 Qa5 27.Qb2 Bf8
28.Rc6) 22.0-0 Bd7 23.Nb1 Rc8
24.Rxc8 Bxc8 25.Rd1 Nbd7 26.Nd3
Bd6 27.a4 bxa4 28.Nd2 Bb8
29.Qc6 Qc7 30.Qxa4 Ba7 31.Bxa7
Qxa7+ 32.Kf1;
12.g3 e6
Golubev is playing without any
plan.
He could have tried 12...e5
13.d5 Ne7 when 14.c5 would be
premature due to 14...dxc5 (14...
Bb5 15.Nc3 Bxf1 16.Kxf1 Nd7 17.b4
Rf8 18.Kg2, Riazantsev-Moskvin,
blitz 2004) 15.Bxc5 c6 16.d6 Nc8.
It is better to develop with 14.Bg2!
when 14...c5 15.b4 b6 16.0-0 Kh7
17.h3 (17.a4!?) 17...Nfg8 18.f4 gave
White an initiative in Bitoon-Nguyen, Kuala Lumpur 2011.
13.Bg2 Qe7 14.0-0 Qf8
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26. Gupta-Nolte
Kolkata 05.12.2012
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7
4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Nge2 a6
7.Be3 Nc6 8.Qd2 Rb8 9.Rc1 Bd7
10.Nd1 e5 11.d5 Ne7 12.Nf2 b6
13.b4 c5 14.g3 Ne8 15.Bg2 f5
16.0-0
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9+-+lsn-vlp0
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9+-tR-+RmK-0
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16...Nf6
Part 6
option of b3-b4. However, 20...Ra8
offered White full control of the
b-file. Dreev used it to penetrate
eventuto b8:
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9+Rsnl+rvlp0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9wQ-zpPzp-vL-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
9P+-+-sNLzP0
9+R+N+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-trk+0
9+-wqlsn-vl-0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpPzp-+p0
9p+P+P+-+0
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23.h4
The a4-pawn looks doomed after 23.a3 because White can pile 3
hits on it as I pointed out before.
Gupta obviously decided that on a3
it will be no less a prey and spent a
tempo to block any ideas with ...h4,
followed up by ...Nh5.
23...a3 24.Rb3 Ba4 25.Rxb8
Rxb8 26.Nc3 Bd7 27.Qc1
The pawn is going to fall. Blacks
attempt to seduce White into grabbing the exchange should have
been punished quickly, but Gupta
missed a forced win and prolonged
Noltes agony.
27...Rb4
28.Qxa3
Rxc4
29.Bf1 Rd4 30.Qa8+ Bc8
31.Ba6? (31.Nb5+) 31...Rb4
32.Bxc8 Rxb1+ 33.Nxb1 Nxc8
34.a4 Nd7 35.a5 Qb8 36.Qxb8
Nxb8 37.Na3 Bf6 38.Nc4 Bd8
39.Nd1 Bc7 40.Nc3 Na7 41.Kf2
Kf7 42.Ke2 Na6 43.Kd2 Nb4
44.Kc1 Ke8 45.Kb2 Na6 46.Kb3
Kd7 47.Ka4 Kc8 48.Nb5 Nxb5
49.Kxb5 Kb7 50.Bg5 Bb8 51.Bd8
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22.Rxb8
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Part 6
41.Nab5 Bg4? 42.Bxg4 hxg4
43.Nd1 Bg5 44.Ba5 Bd8 45.Ne3
Kg5 46.Nf5
1-0
28. Dreev-Kokarev
Mumbai 09.06.2010
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16...Qf8!?
20...c5 might offer White a target. His plan is to install a blockading knight on d3 and push e5
anyway. He can also opt for b2b4: 21.Nf2 b5 (21...Bg7 22.Rfe1
f5 23.Kg2 b5 24.b3 g5 25.exf5)
22.Nd3 a5 23.Rfe1 Qe7 24.b3 Bg7
25.f4.
21.Nf4 h5 22.Nd3 cxd5
23.cxd5 Rbc8 24.Rxc8 Rxc8
25.Rc1 h4 26.Kg2 Qd8
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17.0-0
19.Bh3!?
27.f4 Rxc1
29.Qd1?!
180
h6
18.Bxf6
Bxf6
28.Qxc1
Qd7
181
Part 6
182
5...c6 6.Be3 a6
Part 7
XIIIIIIIIY
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9+p+-zppvlp0
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183
Part 7
Part 7
Main Ideas
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4
d6 5.Nc3 c6 6.Be3 a6
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7.Bd3
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5...c6 6.Be3 a6
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Analysis
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XIIIIIIIIY
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9+PsN-vLP+P0
9-+LwQ-+P+0
9+-+R+R+K0
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XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ltr-+k+0
9+p+-+pvlp0
9-+pzpnsnp+0
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9PwqPsNP+-+0
9+PsN-vLP+P0
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9+-+R+RmK-0
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Part 7
With all our pawns on light squares,
it is our good bishop. That would
become even more evident when
we play f3-f4-f5 and Black will
probably have to entrench himself
with ...f6. Of course, these strategic considerations should fall into
the background when we have fair
chances for a direct attack. In that
event we should treat the g7-bishop
as a defender and kill it.
Zhou Jianchao-Ding Liren
Shandong 2007
XIIIIIIIIY
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XIIIIIIIIY
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186
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XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ntr-tr-+0
9+pwq-+-mkp0
9-+pzp-zpp+0
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9P+P+PzP-+0
9+P+-+QsNP0
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9+-+R+R+K0
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5...c6 6.Be3 a6
More often Black defends with...
f6. Then we need to thrust the hpawn. Here, the thematic 27.f5
could be met by 27...g5 28.h4 h6
so best is:
27.h4! Rde8 28.h5 (28.f5! Re5
29.fxg6 hxg6 30.h5 is more accurate.) 28...Qd7 29.Kh2 Rf7 30.Rd2
Rff8 31.Rh1 b6 32.Kg1 and White
is all set for a decisive assault.
Razuvaev-Anand
Kolkata, 1986
XIIIIIIIIY
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XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9+-+nzppvlp0
9p+pzp-+p+0
9+p+-zP-+-0
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9tR-+QmK-sNR0
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XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqk+-tr0
9+-+-zppvlp0
9p+pzp-+p+0
9+-+lzP-+-0
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9+-+LvLN+-0
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187
Part 7
Part 7
Step by Step
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4
d6 5.Nc3 c6 6.Be3 a6
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XIIIIIIIIY
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9n+pzp-snp+0
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xiiiiiiiiy
10...e5
5...c6 6.Be3 a6
12.Bxd4 Be6 13.b3 Nd7 trades
dark-squared bishops which is not
necessarily in Whites favour.
12...Nc5
Salem-Movsesian, rapid Khanty-Mansiysk 2013, saw 12...Qe7
13.0-0 Nd7 when the best plan
is to push 14.f4! (or 14.Bb1 Re8
15.h3 Nb4 16.f4) 14...Nac5 15.Bc2
Nf6 16.f5. Now 16...Nfxe4 would
be hopeless after 17.Nxe4 Nxe4
18.Bxe4 Qxe4 19.f6.
12...Nb4 13.Bb1 Re8 14.0-0 d5?
eliminates the centre, but gives
White the commanding square b5:
15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Ndb5, RazuvaevZarnicki, Palma de Mallorca 1991.
13.Bc2 Qb6 14.b3 Re8 15.0-0
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15...Be6
XIIIIIIIIY
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c1) 13.d5?! Nd7 (13...Bd7 14.b3
Rec8 15.Bb1 cxd5 16.Nxd5) 14.Nc1!
Nb4 15.Bb1 cxd5 16.Nxd5.
c2) 13.Rde1
I think that 13.Bb1!? is more accurate as we do not need the rook
on e1, at least for now. Nevertheless, Edouards straightforward
play is quite instructive:
13...Nd7 14.f4! exd4 15.Nxd4
Nac5 16.Bc2 Ra6!? 17.b3 Rb6
I have been following the game
Edouard-Akshayraj, Dubai 2013.
Now, instead of 18.Qf2 which leaves
the queenside vulnerable to tactical
189
Part 7
hits, e.g. 18...Qf8 19.h3 Rb4 20.Kh2
Nxb3! 21.Bxb3 c5, White should
play simply 18.Rb1 Nf8 19.h3 with
possible Nf3.
12.0-0 exd4
12...Re8 is an ambitious move.
It assumes that the pawn structure
in the centre has reached some
sort of a equilibrium and the first
to break it will make a concession.
Im not sure this reasoning holds
true. First of all, I recommend that
White plays f4 anyway and the
rooks move is no hindrance to it.
Second, Black omits the option of
sending our bishop to e2 instead of
the more active place c2 as in the
line 12...exd4 13.Nxd4 Ne5 14.Be2.
Third, after 12...Re8 13.Bb1 exd4,
White can also recapture on d4 by
bishop due to the weakness of the
d6-pawn. White has three decent
answers, but I vote for the most
straightforward:
13.f4!?
Let us consider the other two
options:
a) 13.Kh1
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9+p+n+pvlp0
9n+pzp-+p+0
9zp-+-zp-+-0
9P+PzPP+-+0
9+-sNLvLP+-0
9-zP-wQN+PzP0
9+-+R+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+r+k+0
9+pwqn+pvlp0
9n+pzp-+p+0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9P+PsNPzP-+0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9-zP-wQ-+PzP0
9+L+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
All is set for a kingside attack.
The game Petursson-Kr.Georgiev,
5...c6 6.Be3 a6
Dubai ol. 1986, went 15...Nb6 16.b3
Nc5 17.Qf2 Nd7 when best is 18.f5.
It is better to keep the knight on d7:
15...Nac5 16.f5 Ne5 17.Qe2
Whites pieces are not on their
best places, but his three central
pawns ensure a firm grip on the
centre. Black lacks any counterplay:
17...Qe7 18.h3 Qf8 19.Bc2 Bh6
20.Bxh6 Qxh6 21.Nf3 Qf8 22.b3.
Around here, the engines already
understand that all the fun is for
White who will soon thrust the hpawn forward. Black can only stay
and wait.
13...exd4 14.Nxd4 Nf6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqr+k+0
9+p+-+pvlp0
9n+pzp-snp+0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9P+PsNPzP-+0
9+-sNLvL-+-0
9-zP-wQ-+PzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.Nxd4 Nc5
After 13...Ne5 14.Be2 Qe7, White
can follow with his main plan:
15.h3 [15.Bg5!? f6 (15...Qc7 16.f4)
16.Bh4 Nc5 17.f4 Bh6 18.Bg3 is a
decent alternative. Remember that
trade of dark-squared bishops, e.g.
15.Bh6?!, is strategically good for
Black!] 15...Rfe8 16.f4 Nd7 and now
we redeploy the bishop to support
the attack: 17.Bd3! Nac5 18.Bc2.
13...Nac5 14.Bc2 Qb6 15.b3 Qb4
is a standard set-up which may occur after different move orders.
It does not hamper our standard
plan: 16.h3 Re8 17.Bf2 Na6 (17...
Nf6 18.Qe3 Be6 19.f4) 18.f4 Ndc5
19.f5.
14.Bb1
There is no reason to give Black
a tempo with 14.Bc2 Nb4 15.Bb1
b6.
14...Qb6
Or 14...Re8 15.f4 followed up by
f5.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+p+-+pvlp0
9nwqpzp-+p+0
9zp-sn-+-+-0
9P+PsNP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQ-+PzP0
9+L+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
191
Part 7
15.f4 Qb4
In Reshevsky-Stein, Sousse
1967, Black attempted 15...f5?!
16.exf5 gxf5, but 17.g4! gave White
a decisive attack, e.g. 17...Nb3
18.Nxb3 Qxb3 19.Kh1.
16.f5!
Whites attack is very strong.
See Game 31 Davies-Grivas, Tel
Aviv 1991.
B. 7...Nbd7 8.a4 e5 9.Nge2
0-0 10.0-0
10.a5 is more principled, but I do
not see a reason to delay our development although White retains his
space advantage and stands slightly
better after 10...exd4 11.Bxd4 Ne5
12.0-0.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+n+pvlp0
9p+pzp-snp+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9P+PzPP+-+0
9+-sNLvLP+-0
9-zP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...a5
5...c6 6.Be3 a6
unconvincing due to 9...Nfd7 10.f4
Nb6 11.c5 dxc5 12.dxc5 Nc4 while
in the current set-up such an approach would cost Black a pawn.
8...Nfd7
8...dxe5 has been known as dubious since the game Spassky-Kavalek San Juan 1970: 9.dxe5 Ng8
10.f4 Nh6 11.Nf3 Bf5 12.Be2!.
9.f4
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9+-+nzppvlp0
9p+pzp-+p+0
9+p+-zP-+-0
9-+PzP-zP-+0
9+-sNLvL-+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+qtrk+0
9+-+nzppvlp0
9pzPN+-+p+0
9+-+N+-+-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-+Lvzp-+-0
9-+-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 7
White has to capture by 13.Bxa4,
giving up the bishop pair and the
initiative.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9+-+-zppvlp0
9psnpzp-+p+0
9+-+-zP-+-0
9-+-zP-zP-+0
9+-sNLvL-+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Be6
194
5...c6 6.Be3 a6
Part 7
Complete Games
29. Knaak-Grivas
Athens 19.05.1992
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7
4.e4 d6 5.f3 a6 6.Be3 c6 7.Bd3
b5 8.e5 Nfd7 9.f4 bxc4 10.Bxc4
Nb6 11.Bd3 Be6 12.Qe2 Nd5
13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Nf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqk+-tr0
9+-+-zppvlp0
9p+pzp-+p+0
9+-+lzP-+-0
9-+-zP-zP-+0
9+-+LvLN+-0
9PzP-+Q+PzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
14...Bxf3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-+nzppvlp0
9-+pzp-+p+0
9zp-+lzP-sN-0
9-+-zP-zP-zP0
9+-+LvL-+-0
9PzP-+Q+P+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
195
Part 7
Black cannot wait to get overrun
by our superior forces so he must
break through the centre:
17...c5 (17...Bh6 18.Ne4 dxe5
19.dxe5 f6 20.Nc3 fxe5 21.f5)
18.dxc5 Nxc5 (18...dxe5 19.f5)
19.Bxc5 dxc5 20.Rad1 e6 21.Be4.
Black has neutralised the attack, but
he has lost the battle in the centre.
b) 14...0-0 15.0-0 a5
By delaying ...Nd7, Black retains
the option of choosing a set-up with
...Na6, ...Qb6. White can launch an
attack with 16.f5 dxe5 17.dxe5 Nd7
18.Bd4, but the computer claims
that Black can hold after 18...e6
19.f6 Bxf3 20.Qe3 Bd5 21.fxg7
Kxg7. Perhaps it is better to prepare the attack more carefully with:
16.Bc4 Qb6 17.Rac1 Na6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+-+-zppvlp0
9nwqpzp-+p+0
9zp-+lzP-+-0
9-+LzP-zP-+0
9+-+-vLN+-0
9PzP-+Q+PzP0
9+-tR-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+-+-zppvlp0
9-wqp+-+p+0
9+-+pzPP+-0
9p+-zP-+-+0
9+P+QvLR+-0
9P+-+-+PzP0
9+-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
23.h4.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqk+-tr0
9+-+-zpp+p0
9p+p+-+p+0
9+-+-vl-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-+LvLQ+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
17.Be4
5...c6 6.Be3 a6
bishop to g7: 17...Bg7! 18.Bxc6+
Nxc6 19.Qxc6+ Kf8 20.Rd1 (20.0-0
Bxd4) 20...Rc8 21.Qxa6 Ra8 22.Qb5
Rb8 where Whites edge is minimal.
17...Bf6?! 18.0-0 0-0 19.Rad1
This quiet move is even stronger
than 19.d5 Nd7.
19...Qd6 20.Kh1! a5
Perhaps it is late for a good advice. Whites bishop pair is tearing
the board, for instance: 20...Ra7
21.Bf4 Qd8 22.d5 cxd5 23.Bxd5
Rd7 24.Bh6! Re8 25.g4, winning.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+r+k+0
9+p+nwqpvlp0
9-+pzp-+p+0
9zp-+-zp-+-0
9PsnPzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9-zP-wQN+PzP0
9+L+R+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.f4
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-+-trk+0
9+-+-zpp+p0
9-+p+-vlp+0
9zp-+P+-+-0
9-wq-+LvL-+0
9+-+-+Q+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9+-+R+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
22...c5?
30. Rubinetti-Partos
Nice ol., 18.06.1974
Re8
1-0
15...exd4 16.Bxd4
As a rule, taking by knight is never wrong in this structure. White is
clearly better after 16.Nxd4 Nc5
17.f5.
16...Bf8
Black should always consider
the trade of dark-squared bishops.
If he does not lose something by
force, 16...Bxd4 should be his first
197
Part 7
choice, because Whites bishop is a
very strong piece. However, in this
particular position, the d6-pawn
is very weak. The straightforward
approach 17.Qxd4?! Nc5 18.Qxd6
does not work due to 18...Qxd6
19.Rxd6 Be6, but 17.Nxd4 would
be awkward. For instance, 17...
b6 18.Nc2 already wins a healthy
pawn: 18...Nc5 19.Qxd6 Be6
20.Ne3. Therefore, Partos move
looks reasonable.
17.Rde1
The standard plan is 17.f5. Rubinetti has another idea in mind
which is typical for the Modern Benoni pawn structure.
17...Na6 18.Ng3 Nac5 19.Bc2
Ne6 20.Be3 Nec5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+rvlk+0
9+p+nwqp+p0
9-+pzp-+p+0
9zp-sn-+-+-0
9P+P+PzP-+0
9+-sN-vL-sN-0
9-zPLwQ-+PzP0
9+-+-tRR+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+r+k+0
9+-+nwqpvlp0
9-zpp+-+p+0
9zp-+-zpP+-0
9P+P+N+-+0
9+-+-vL-+-0
9-zPL+-wQPzP0
9+-+-tRR+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
31. Davies-Grivas
Tel Aviv 1991
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7
4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2
c6 8.a4 a5 9.Bd3 Na6 10.Rd1
e5 11.Nge2 Nd7 12.0-0 exd4
13.Nxd4 Ndc5 14.Bb1 Qb6 15.f4
Qb4 16.f5!
This set-up is Whites ultimate
goal in this opening. Davies has
achieved it in its extreme, most
unbalanced version all the ene
5...c6 6.Be3 a6
mys pieces are on the queenside.
If the attack fails, White will probably end up with a material deficit.
However, analysis proves that he
must be winning.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+p+-+pvlp0
9n+pzp-+p+0
9zp-sn-+P+-0
9PwqPsNP+-+0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9-zP-wQ-+PzP0
9+L+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-tr-+0
9+p+n+-mkp0
9-+pzp-zpp+0
9zp-sn-+P+-0
9PwqPsNP+-+0
9+-sN-+R+-0
9-zP-wQ-+PzP0
9+L+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-trktr-+0
9+p+-+n+Q0
9-+-zpl+L+0
9zpNsn-zp-+-0
9PwqP+-+-+0
9+P+-tR-+-0
9-+-+-+PzP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+ntr-+0
9+p+-+pmkp0
9-+pzp-snp+0
9zp-wq-+P+-0
9P+PsNP+-+0
9+PsN-+-+R0
9-+-wQ-+PzP0
9+L+R+-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
199
Part 7
The attack is running smoothly.
22...Ng4 23.Rf1 Nef6 24.Rh4
h5 25.h3 Ne5 26.Nce2 Bd7
27.Ng3
27.Qg5 also wins as Black has
no defence against the threat of
28.Ng3, e.g. 27...Nh7 28.f6+ Kh8
29.Qh6 Rg8 30.Nf5!+.
27...Rh8 28.fxg6 Nxg6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-tr0
9+p+l+pmk-0
9-+pzp-snn+0
9zp-wq-+-+p0
9P+PsNP+-tR0
9+P+-+-sNP0
9-+-wQ-+P+0
9+L+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
200
proach to the centre is rather untypical. He does not take on d4 putting his hopes on the e5-pawn to
keep him safe.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqrsnk+0
9+p+-+pvlp0
9n+pzp-+p+0
9zp-+-zp-+-0
9P+PzPP+-+0
9+-sNLvLP+-0
9-zP-wQN+PzP0
9+-+R+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqr+k+0
9+p+-+pvlp0
9-+-+-+p+0
9zp-zpNzpP+-0
9P+PsnP+-+0
9+-+-vL-+-0
9-zP-wQ-+PzP0
9+L+R+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
Part 8
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
201
Part 8
Part 8
Main Ideas
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4
d6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+n+pvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+-+Pzp-+-0
9-+-+P+P+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQN+-zP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
invade the enemy camp through
the opposite part of the board. The
d5-pawn ensures us of a spatial advantage so it is easy to transfer pieces back and forth between the two
flanks. We should play complexly,
on a wide front, and pick the most
vulnerable spot for a target.
Look at the following example:
11...b5 12.Ng3 Bb7 13.h4 Qe7
14.h5 Rfc8
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+-+k+0
9+l+nwqpvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+p+Pzp-+P0
9-+-+P+P+0
9+-sN-vLPsN-0
9PzP-wQ-+-+0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqntrk+0
9zppzp-sn-vlp0
9-+-zp-+-+0
9+-+Pzpp+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQN+-zP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...h5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+n+pvln0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-+Pzp-zPp0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQN+-zP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.Nc1!
Part 8
Nb6 19.b3 Bd7
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+q+k+0
9+-+l+-vln0
9psn-zp-trp+0
9+p+Pzp-+p0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+PsN-vLP+-0
9P+-wQN+LzP0
9+KtR-+-tR-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+n+-+n0
9p+-zp-vlp+0
9+-+Pzp-+p0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQL+-zP0
9tR-sN-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-tr-+0
9+p+n+-mkn0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-+Pzp-+p0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-sNNwQP+-0
9PzP-+L+-zP0
9tR-+-mK-tR-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PsNP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
Typical tactical motifs
In the early opening stages,
White is often undeveloped and
that is a fertile soil for destructive
tactical blows. We should not underestimate Blacks counterplay. It
is better to anticipate it:
Analysis
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wq-trk+0
9+l+-+pvlp0
9psn-zp-snp+0
9+-+Pzp-+-0
9-zp-+P+PzP0
9+P+-vLPsN-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+-wQNmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9psn-zp-+p+0
9+-+Pzp-snp0
9-+-+P+-vl0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+L+QzP0
9tR-sNK+-tR-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Analysis
XIIIIIIIIY
9rwq-+ltr-mk0
9+-+-+-vl-0
9-sn-zp-snp+0
9zp-+Pzp-+p0
9-+-+P+-+0
9sNP+-vLP+-0
9-mK-wQLsN-zP0
9+-tR-+-tR-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+p+-snp+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+PsNP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqntrk+0
9zpp+-+-vlp0
9-+n+Pzpp+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-sN-zP-+0
9+-sN-vL-+-0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Part 8
Part 8
Step by Step
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4
d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9+pzpn+pvl-0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9zp-+-zp-vLp0
9-+PzPP+-zP0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-wQN+P+0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...f6
6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
A. 7...exd4 8.Nxd4 Nc6 (8...
c6 is considered in line D)
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PsNP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+-zplsnp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PvLP+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-wQL+PzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Nd7
Part 8
11...c6 12.0-0 Qa5 13.a3 a6 14.Rfd1
Rfd8, Shinkevich-Enders, Budapest
1996, 15.b4!.
In Lautier-Piket, Dos Hermanas
1995, Black chose to trade bishops
with 11...Nh5 12.Bxg7 Nxg7 13.0-0
(13.0-0-0 deserves attention: 13...
f5 14.exf5 Nxf5 15.Bd3.) 13...c6.
This position is similar to the main
line, but the fianchetto knight on g7
is a bit passive. The game went further with 14.Kh1 Qc7 15.Rad1 Rad8
16.Qd4 a6 17.Rd2 f5 18.Rfd1 Rd7
when 19.b3 b5 20.Bd3 Rdd8 21.Ne2
would have kept the tension.
12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.0-0
13.h4 h5 14.0-0-0 is also promi
sing.
13...f5 (13...f6) 14.exf5 Bxf5
15.Rae1 Nb6 16.f4
Later in the game Rellstab-Carls,
Bad Aachen 1933, White carried on
g4 and went on to win.
B. 7...Nc6 8.d5 Ne7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-snpvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+Pzp-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
208
6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
C. 7...c6 8.Qd2 Nbd7
a) 8...a6?! opens a hole on b6
which can be exploited in the endgame after 9.dxe5! dxe5 10.Qxd8
Rxd8 11.Na4 Nbd7 12.0-0-0!. Black
cannot contest the d-file because of
the weakness of the b7-pawn: 12...
Re8 (12...b5?! 13.Nb6 Rb8 14.g4,
Schlosser-Werner, Germany 1991)
13.c5 Nf8 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.Nc3
Ne6 16.Bc4 Nd4 17.Ne2 Nxe2+
18.Bxe2 Be6 19.Bc4 when 19...
Bxc4 20.Nxc4 Red8 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8
22.Rd1 Rxd1+ 23.Kxd1 Kf8 loses to
24.Na5.
b) 8...Qc7?!. This move practically presents White with two extra
tempi: 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5 a6 11.Ng3
Nbd7 12.Rc1 Qd8 13.b4 h5 14.Bd3
Nh7 15.0-0, Doric-Kozul, Rijeka
2011.
c) 8...exd4 9.Nxd4 d5
9...Re8 10.0-0-0 d5 is too slow:
11.cxd5 cxd5 12.exd5 a6 (12...Nxd5
13.Nc2+) 13.Bc4 b5 14.Bb3 Bb7
15.Rhe1 (powerful development towards the centre) 15...Nbd7 16.Ne6!
and White won in Istratescu-Gallagher, Switzerland 2010.
10.cxd5 (10.exd5 cxd5 11.0-0-0
hardly promises much, e.g. 11...
Nc6 12.Nc2 dxc4 13.Qxd8 Rxd8
14.Rxd8+ Nxd8 15.Bxc4 Be6
16.Bxe6 Nxe6 17.Rd1 a6=) 10...cxd5
11.e5 Ne8
11...Nfd7 postpones the break
...f6 so White can comfortably
complete development with 12.f4
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13.e6!
Part 8
1959: 15.Be2!? Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Bxe6
17.0-0
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6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
9...cxd5
a) 9...Nb6 is best met by
10.Ng3!?
10.b3 cxd5 11.cxd5 Nh5 gives
Black certain counterplay, e.g. 12.g4
Nf4 13.Nxf4 exf4 14.Bxf4 Qh4+
15.Bg3 Qf6 16.Rc1 Qxf3 17.Bg2 Qf6
18.g5 Qe7 19.Nb5 Be5 20.0-0 Bxg3
21.hxg3 Bd7=.
10...cxd5 11.cxd5 Bd7 (11...h5
12.Bd3 h4 13.Nge2) 12.a4 Be8 13.a5
Nbd7 14.b4.
b) 9...c5?! is a strategic mistake
because it is very passive and offers
White an advantage on both flanks
after 10.g4. See my Game 35
Svetushkin-Ciobanu, Eforie Nord
2009. I discuss in the annotations
important positional principles you
should keep in mind when playing
the Smish.
10.cxd5 a6
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11.g4!
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Part 8
24.Nb6 Bxf3 25.Qxf3 Rd8 26.Rb4
Kh8.
b) 14...fxe4 15.fxe4 Ng4 Black
plays for a draw here, with fair
chances to achieve it: 16.Rxf8+ Bxf8
17.Bg5 Qb6+(17...Be7 18.Bxe7 Qxe7
19.h3 Ngf6 20.g4) 18.Kh1 Bg7
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212
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6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
cause White gains even more space
by Ng3, h4-h5. The only hope of
the second players is to counterattack with some sacrifices in the
event White burns the bridges behind him. We must remember that
no matter how fearsome our kingside pawn formation may look, we
should not overestimate our attack.
The source of our advantage is the d5-pawn and the
space it ensures.
Basically, our main battle plan
is to invade the queenside while restricting the enemy at the other part
of the board. Of course, that does
not rule out an attack on Blacks
king, but it should be well prepared
and our pieces must be co-ordinated. We start with:
12.Ng3 Nb6
Alternatively:
a) 12...Bb7 13.h4 Qe7 (13...b4
14.Nd1) 14.h5 Rfc8
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213
Part 8
13...Nfd7
13...Bb7 14.h5 b4 15.Nd1 Nfxd5?
16.exd5 Nxd5 is already losing due
to 17.hxg6.
The only reasonable way to
escape the strategic bind is 13...
Bxg4!? 14.fxg4 Nxg4, but in this
line White keeps the central pawns.
The game Paschall-Ilincic, Budapest 2008, went 15.Be2 (15.h5!?)
15...Nxe3 16.Qxe3 Bf6 17.Qh6 Rc8
18.a3 Rc5 19.Rd1 Qe7 20.Rd3.
14.h5 Re8 (14...b4 15.Nd1 a5
16.Qh2+) 15.Rc1 Nf8 16.b3.
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6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
He could choose between 20.Kc1,
20.Rg1 or 20.Nc6. Kotronias sacrifice just adds material advantage
to Whites positional pressure:
18...a5?! 19.Nxb5 Ba6 20.a4 Bxb5
21.axb5 a4 22.Kc2 Nf6 23.Nb4!+.
13.Nc1!
This move is practically unknown at high level. Only Atalik
mentioned it in 1996, but it assessed the variation as unclear.
Back in 1993 Karpov created a strategic masterpiece after
13.Rg1 f6 14.gxf6 Qxf6 15.0-0-0
and everybody wanted to follow
into his steps ever since. See Game
34 Karpov-Dolmatov, Dortmund
1993. All the more, Karpov beat
subsequently Kotronias and Topalov with the same receipt quick
castling, occupation of the c-file
and eventually some white pieces
penetrates the enemy camp. Look
at the following games:
Karpov-Kotronias, Athens 1997:
13.Rg1 f6 14.gxf6 Rxf6 15.0-0-0
Qe8?! 16.Bg2 b5 17.Kb1 Rb8 18.Rc1
Nb6 19.b3 Bd7
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215
Part 8
In my opinion, here 16...Nc5!
equalises in the forced line 17.f4
exf4 18.Bxc5 dxc5 19.e5 f3 20.exf6
fxe2 21.f7+ Kh8 22.Bxe2 Qf6=
while both 17.Bxc5 dxc5 18.d6 Nf8
19.Nd5 Rxf3 20.Ne7+ Kh7 21.Qd5
Be6 22.Qxc5 Nd7 and 17.Kb2 b4
18.Nb1 Qb6 even give Black an initiative.
I tried to fiddle with the move
order, for instance: 15.Nc1 instead
of 15.0-0-0, but 15...Rxf3 16.Rxg6
Qh4+ 17.Bf2 Qxh2 is unpleasant. Galkin continues with 18.Nd3
claiming a clear advantage for
White, but in fact Black has the initiative and an extra pawn to keep
him safe in an endgame, e.g.
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13.Rg1 b5
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6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
16.Nd3
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14...Bxf6
14...Rxf6 makes no sense here as
the g6-pawn is not attacked: 15.Be2
b5 16.Nd3.
15.Be2!
I would love to keep the strong
dark-squared bishop away from
exchange (15...Bg5), but it does not
work too well:
15.Rg1 is roughly equal after 15...Bh4+ 16.Kd1 Rxf3 17.Be2
Rxe3 18.Rxg6+ Kf7 19.Bxh5 Ndf6
20.Rxf6+ Kxf6 21.Qxe3 Kg7 22.Kc2
Qg5 23.Qe2 Nf6 24.Bf3 Bd7 25.Nd3
Kf8. Blacks active pieces compensate for the missing pawn.
The engines and Atalik recommend 15.Qg2 Bh4+
Black should oppose something
substantial to Karpovs plan. Mundane redeploying is gloom: 15...Rf7
16.Rg1 Nhf8 17.Nd3 b5 18.0-0-0
Nb6 19.b3 Bd7 20.Nb4.
16.Kd1 Ng5!
Atalik gives 16...Qf6 17.Be2 as
unclear, but I do not see any decent continuation for Black.
16...g5 is aggressive, but unconvincing: 17.Kc2
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217
Part 8
17...Nc5 (or 17...b5 18.Nd3 Nb6
19.b3 Bd7 20.Nb4) 18.Nd3 Nxd3
19.Bxd3 Kh8 (19...b5 20.Rac1
completes the artificial castling.
Blacks only active resource seems
to be ...g4 so it is logical to remove
the king from the g-file.) 20.Raf1
Bd7 21.Kb1. White is well prepared to neutralise any counterplay with ...g4. For example: 21...
g4 22.f4! exf4 23.Bxf4 Qe7 24.e5
dxe5 25.d6 Qg7 26.Bg3 Bc6 27.Be4
Rxf1+ 28.Rxf1 Bxg3 29.hxg3 or
21...b5 22.Rhg1 g4 23.Ne2 Ng5
24.fxg4. On the other hand, if
Black stays passively, White will
return to his main plan of attacking the queenside pawns: 21...b5
22.Rhg1 Rc8 23.Ne2 Qe7 24.Ng3
Qf7 25.Qd2 Bh3 26.Rf2 Qe8
27.Qa5.
17.Be2 Nb6 18.Rg1 Rf4!
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218
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6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
is less protected and he lacks an
active plan. Furthermore, in many
variations the break f3-f4 gains in
strength. For example:
a) 18...b5 19.Kd2! Ndf6 (19...
Qb6 20.a4 bxa4 21.Nxa4 Qb7
22.Rac1) 20.Raf1 Qe7 21.a3 Qa7
22.Qxa7+ Rxa7
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23.f4.
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219
Part 8
Part 8
Complete Games
33. Bomans-Nevednichy
Krk Malinska 07.04.2013
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 g6
4.e4 Bg7 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 e5
7.Nge2 c6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.d5
cxd5 10.cxd5 a6 11.g4 b5 12.Ng3
Nb6
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6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
After the imminent f3-f4, the fline will open in Whites favour so
23.0-0!? was a good option, too.
23...Bd8 24.Kg2 Qb7 25.f4
exf4 26.Bxf4
Black is strategically lost. His
diagonals h8-a1 and c8-h3 are gaping.
26...Bb6
27.Ng4
Bxg4
28.Bxg4 Qe7 29.Rc1 Na7
30.b4+
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34. Karpov-Dolmatov
Dortmund 1993
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3
Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 e5
7.Nge2 c6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.d5
cxd5 10.cxd5 a6 11.g4 h5 12.g5
Nh7 13.Rg1 (I propose 13.Nc1! in
Step by Step) 13...f6 14.gxf6
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14...Qxf6?!
Part 8
18.Be2 Bd7 19.a3
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19...Qd8
22...Be8
23.Nca2
24.Rxc8 Qxc8 25.Rc1 Qa8
Rc8
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6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
10...a6
Black aims for the pawn sacrifice ...b5 in the Benko style, but in
the current position it is much less
effective because his g7-bishop is
shut by the e5-pawn. Black also
lacks the break ...e7-e6. In my opinion, Black should fight for breathing space
by 10...h5 although
White has the upper hand after
11.h3 Nh7 12.0-0-0. For instance:
12...h4 13.g5 a6 14.Kb1 b5 15.cxb5
axb5 16.Nxb5 Nb6 17.Nec3.
11.Ng3 b5 12.h4
If you trust your technique,
12.cxb5! is the best choice.
12...Nb6
Perhaps 12...bxc4 gives more
tangible counterplay.
13.h5 Qe7
After 13...Nxc4 14.Bxc4 bxc4
15.Qh2, White wins the battle on
the kingside.
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14.b3?
suffices to trade dark-squared bishops with Bh6 and the enemy king
will be defenseless. This is a common mistake so I want to elaborate
a little on the subject.
In the diagram position, White
has a significant edge. However, it
is due not so much on the attack on
the h-file, but rather on his great
spatial advantage and the more
active pieces. Time and again, detailed analysis proves that Blacks
castling position is extremely resilient. As a rule, it cannot be conquered by mere pressure down the
h-file. It takes much more to invade his camp. We should prepare
for complex play along the whole
battlefront. We should be gaining
more and more space, step by step,
throwing back the enemy pieces
and preventing any counterplay.
When Blacks pieces get stuck to the
last ranks, we can even think about
opening the centre and the f-file
with f3-f4. Translated into concrete
moves, that would mean to drop
the idea of Bh6? in favour of 14.g5!
(sending the knight to e8 and cancelling any ideas with ...Bxg4) 14...
Ne8 15.Qh2 Bh8 (only move). Now
Black is paralysed on the right wing
and we can simply eat the b5-pawn.
14...b4 15.Nd1 a5 16.Rb1?!
A horrible move, based on the
wrong conception that the kingside
attack is enough for winning the
game. That might be true, but only
if Black had not any counterplay. If
we think globally, we should prefer
16.a4 or perhaps 16.a3!? keeping
the queenside open.
223
Part 8
16...Bd7
16...a4! was essential even
though 17.a3! bxa3 18.b4 would be
still pleasant for White.
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17.Bh6?
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224
21...Na4?
21...Rfa8! 22.Rg2 (22.g5! Ne8
23.Rbh2 Rxb3 24.Qxh7+ is a perpe
tual.) 22...Qf8 23.Qe3 Qg7 and
Black has already the better pieces,
24.Nf5 Bxf5 25.gxf5 Nbd7. For my
luck, Ciobanu forgot to free the f8square and co-authored a nice mi
niatuare:
22.Rg2 Ne8?
This looses immediately. 22...
Nc3 23.Nf5 Bxf5 24.gxf5 Ra1 25.Be2
Nxe2 26.Rxe2 g5! would have kept
Black in the game.
23.Nf5 Bxf5 24.gxf5 Rxb3
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6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
Part 9
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Part 9
Part 9
Step by Step
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The idea behind this move order is to solve the inherent problem
of the awkward Smish knight by
shifting it to c3. You should have
noted already that we play Ne2
against most major Blacks system, like The Panno Variation with
...Nc6 and the Classical Variation
with ...e5. Then we simply transpose to our main repertoire. Independent significance have:
A. 5...0-0 6.Be3 c5 and B. 5...c6
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8...Ne5
8...Na5!? exploits the fact that
White has committed his queen to
d2 so a2-a4 is impossible due to the
fork on b3. That calls for a change
of plans:
9.Na3
The game Rowson-Hebden,
Hinckley 2013, saw 9.Nec3 a6
10.Bh6 [10.Na3 e6 11.e5 (11.Nc2
exd5 12.cxd5 b5 13.b4 cxb4 14.Nxb4
Nd7) 11...Ne8] 10...b5!? with serious counterplay. The text has not
been tested in practice yet.
9...a6
9...e6 10.dxe6 Bxe6 11.Nf4 gives
White a pull.
10.Nf4!?
10.Nc3 e6 11.dxe6 Bxe6 12.Rd1
Nd7 offers Black significant counterplay which should be enough for
him to keep the balance: 13.Qxd6
Nc6 (13...Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Nc6
15.Qd2 Qa5 16.Qc1 Rad8 17.Bh6
Rfe8 18.Kf2) 14.Qd2 f5 15.Be2 fxe4
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10.Be2
exd5
Part 9
2004. It looks a bit more pleasant
for White. The play may continue
with 15...a6 16.g4 (Bischoff chose
16.Rae1, but I think that e1 should
be taken by the kings rook to
free the f1-square for the bishop.)
16...Bd7 17.h3 Re8 18.Bf4 Rb8
19.Kg2 Re7 20.Rfe1!?.
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White has some pull. For instance, 20...Qc7 21.Bf1 Rbe8 stumbles into 22.Rxe5! while 20...Nf7
faces 21.Nc4 Qc7 22.a5.
B. 5...c6
5...a6 is even more interesting.
Then 6.Nec3 weakens d4 so 6...
Nc6 seems a logical retort. Perhaps
White should try 6.Be3 when 6...b5
7.Nf4 is a blank page in theory.
6.Be3 a6
6...0-0 7.Nbc3 a6 8.c5 transposes to a topical variation which
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7.Nec3
Part 9
Complete Games
36. Dreev-Khismatullin
RUS Cup Ramenskoe 2006
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More often, Black follows another move order: 6...c6 7.Be3 a6 8.c5
when 8...b5 9.cxd6 exd6 10.Qd2
Nbd7 11.Nf4 transposes.
In the event of 8...Nbd7 it is best
to take on d6 immediately because
9.Nf4 dxc5 10.dxc5 Qc7 11.Qc1 Ne5
is too symmetric. I tried in one of
my games 12.h4 Rd8 13.Be2 and
was slightly better after 13...Nh5
14.Nxh5, but still 9.cxd6 is more
principled.
After 8...b6 9.cxd6 exd6 10.Nf4
c5, it is a good idea to trade queens
with 11.dxc5 dxc5 12.Qxd8. These
endgames are generally in Whites
favour.
12.Be2 c5
In my game against Brenjo,
Vrnjacka Banja 2010, I faced 12...
Rc8 13.0-0 c5 14.Rad1 Re8 when
simplest is to open the d-file with
15.dxc5, as Dreev did in the main
game.
13.0-0 Re8 14.dxc5! dxc5
15.Rad1
White has the better chances. He
should not rush with Nd5 though.
Instead he can improve firstly his
position with b3, then maybe a4.
15...Bc6 16.Ncd5 Rc8 17.b3
h6 18.Rfe1 (18.Nxf6!+ Qxf6
19.Qc1) 18...Nh7?! (18...Nxd5! was
called for) 19.Rc1 Nhf8 20.Bf1
Kh7 21.Red1 Ne6 22.Nxe6 Rxe6
23.Nf4 Re8 24.Nd3 f5 25.Nxc5
fxe4 26.Nxd7 exf3 27.Nf8+ 1-0
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6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2
Index of Variations
Part 1. Anti-QGA
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3
3...c5 (3...b5 14; 3...Nc6 14; 3...Bg4 15; 3...Be6 15) 4.xc4 Nf6 5.0-0 e6
6.Qe2 a6 7.Rd1! 19
6...Nc6 7.Rd1 Be7 (7...a6 8.d4 19) 8.Nc3 0-0 9.d4 cxd4 (9...Qc7 17)
10.exd4 17
10.Nxd4 18
Part 2. Reversed Benoni
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4
3.g3 Nc6 29
3.e3 Nc6 (3...c5 42) 4.exd4 30
4. b4 dxe3 (4...Bg4 32) 5.fxe3 Nxb4 6.d4 e5 32
6...c5 34
6...e6 38
3.b4 f6 (3...g6 40; 3...a5 41; 3...c5 42) 4.e3 e5 (4...dxe3 42; 4...c5 42) 5.c5
5...a5 6.Nxe5 44
6.Bc4 44
6.Bb5+ 46
Part 3. Anti-Slav; Anti-Chebanenko
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3
3...Nd7 59
3...g6 60
3...Bf5 60
3...Nf6 (3...Bg4 61) 4.Nc3 Bg4 61
3...e6 4.b3 f5 63
3...Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.Qc2 65 (5.b3 65)
5...Bg4 65
5...e6 6.d4 66
6.b3 68
5...b5 69
5...g6 70
Part 4. Anti-meran I
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6
5.b3 (5.Qc2 87) Nbd7 (5...Bd6 88; 5...b6 89) 6.Qc2 Be7 90
6...b6 91
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Part 8
Part 5. Anti-meran II
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.b3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bb2
7...0-0 (7...a6 101;7...Qe7 102) 8.Rg1!? (8.Be2 Part 6) Qe7 103
8...a6 104
8...e5 107
Part 6. Anti-meran III
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.b3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bb2
0-0 8.Be2
8...Re8 9.0-0 dxc4 120
9...e5 121
9...b6 122
8...Qe7 9.0-0 b6 125
9...e5 125
9...Re8 126
9...a6 127
9...dxc4 128
8...a6 9.d4 b5 130
9...e5 131
8...dxc4 131
8...b6 132
Part 7. Anti-Queens Gambit I
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3
3...c6 4.Bg2 dxc4 153 (4...Bd6 153)
4...Nf6 154
3...g6 155
3...dxc4 4.Qa4+ (4.Na3 156) 4...Bd7 5.Qxc4 Bc6 156
5...c5 157
4...c6 159
4...Nd7 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.Qxc4 a6 165
6...c5 167
Part 8. Anti-Queens Gambit II
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3
6...c5 7.Bb2 Nc6 8.e3 b6 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.d4
Rad8 185; 12...Na5 186; 12...Nb4 186
9...dxc4 10.bxc4 Bb7 11.Qe2 Rc8 187;
11...a6 190; 11...Qc7 193; 11...Qd7 193; 11...Nb4 194
9...Ba6 195
6...b6 7.Bb2 Bb7 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Nc3 (9.Qe2 a5 196) 9...Ne4 197
9...c5 199
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