Georgiev, Kiril - Fighting The London System
Georgiev, Kiril - Fighting The London System
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XIIIIIIIIY
Basically, he must be acquainted with the Finally, Chapter 8 deals with 1.d4 Nf6
following two positions: 2.Bf4 c5. Of course, Black has an
XIIIIIIIIY enormous choice of other plans – such as
9r+-+kvl-tr0 the Queen’s Indian approach with ...b6
without ...d5, or the King’s Indian set-up
9zpp+-zppzpp0 with ...d6 with further ...e5. However, I
9-wqn+-sn-+0 prefer to exploit White’s moves more
9+-+p+l+-0 concretely by hitting his sore point – b2 by
9-+pzP-vL-+0 2...c5 3.e3 Qb6. In all the events this queen
9+-zP-zPN+-0 sortie hampers the enemy normal
development.
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0
9tRN+-mKL+R0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9rsnl+kvl-tr0
9zpp+pzppzpp0
and 9-wq-+-sn-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-zp-+-+-0
9r+-+kvl-tr0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9zpp+qzppzpp0 9+-+-zP-+-0
9-+n+-sn-+0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9+-zpp+l+-0 9tRN+QmKLsNR0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+QzP-zP-+-0
After 4.Nc3 we can either capture the
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 pawn, allowing repetition of moves, or
9tR-+-mKLsNR0 demonstrate a strong determination with
xiiiiiiiiy ...4...d6.
e rst one could arise if White used You can start by picking out one of the
the classical move order with Nf3, while plans I consider, and then enrich your
the second is typical for the Accelerated arsenal with others. In all cases you should
London. In all events, Black does not be obtaining decent positions in the
experience any theoretical problems. In my opening, but you’ll play some of them more
opinion, play is more boring, compared to con dently, depending on your personal
the previously mentioned plans. style.
Chapter 1. 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 g6
Main Ideas
space and answer 5...h5.
Move order
e rst three chapters of this book are XIIIIIIIIY
devoted to the Grünfeld approach towards 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
the London System. I’ll consider the move 9zppzp-zppvl-0
order:
9-+-+-snp+0
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 g6 4.e3 Bg7 9+-+p+-+p0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zP-vL-zP0
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 9+-+-zP-+-0
9zppzp-zppvlp0 9PzPP+LzPP+0
9-+-+-snp+0 9tRN+QmK-sNR0
9+-+p+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-+-zPN+-0 In my opinion, the insertion of h4 h5
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 may be in Black’s favour. In many lines
with White’s short castling, he can no
9tRN+QmKL+R0 longer fear the positional threat of g4 which
xiiiiiiiiy typically earns White more space. Our
bishop gets stable stands on f5 or g4. e
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 g6!? 4.Nf3 Bg7 real test of our set-up should be plans with
leads to the same position. long castling:
White cannot extract anything positive
from delaying 4.Nf3: 6.c3
a) 4.Nd2 Bg7 5.c3 0-0 6.Bd3 c5 7.dxc5 6.Nf3 c5 7.0-0 (7.Nbd2 Qb6) 7...cxd4
is dubious. Black would get an 8.exd4 Qb6 9.Nc3 0-0.
overwhelming position after 7...Nfd7 6.f3?! c5.
8.Nb3 a5 9.a4 e5 10.Bg3 Qe7 11.Bb5
Nxc5 12.Qxd5 Nba6 13.Bxa6 Nxa6 6...c5 7.Nf3 0-0 8.Nbd2 Bg4!? 9.Ne5
14.Nf3 Be6 15.Qb5 f6 16.0-0 Rfc8μ. (9.dxc5 Qc8; 9.0-0 Qb6 10.Qb3 Nc6)
9...Bxe2 10.Qxe2 Nbd7 11.0-0-0 Qb6!
b) 4.h4!? Bg7 5.Be2 is a more
challenging try. I propose not to cede any
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 3...d5! immediately evens the chances. We’ll
9r+-+-trk+0 discuss it in Chapter 2.
9zpp+nzppvl-0
9-wq-+-snp+0 Black’s main set-up
White’s most popular scheme is to secure
9+-zppsN-+p0 his dark-squared bishop by playing h3 early.
9-+-zP-vL-zP0 en we anchetto the second bishop to
9+-zP-zP-+-0 reach the following position:
9PzP-sNQzPP+0
4.e3 Bg7 5.h3 0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.c3 b6!
9+-mKR+-+R0
8.Nbd2 Bb7 9.0-0 Nc6
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
Black’s attack is quick and natural:
9r+-wq-trk+0
12.Nxd7 (12.Ndf3 Rac8) 12...Nxd7 13.g4
9zpl+-zppvlp0
Rac8 14.Kb1 hxg4 15.Qxg4 cxd4 16.cxd4 9-zpn+-snp+0
Qb5 17.Qh3 e5„. 9+-zpp+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
I believe that the Grünfeld set-up is one
of the most unpleasant weapon against
9+-zP-zPN+P0
the London – both psychologically and 9PzP-sNLzPP+0
theoretically. 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
It does require knowledge of the pure xiiiiiiiiy
Grünfeld line 5.c4 0-0 6.Nc3 c5 (covered
in Chapter 3), but on the other hand, it has Note two important moments here.
always been a sideline which brings White a
1. After 7.c3, we defended our c5-pawn
modest 45% in practice. Its theoretical
with 7...b6!
overhead is nothing in comparison to the
monstrous amount of variations you would 2. We have clearly shown that we were
need to swallow before daring into the not focused on a plan with ...e5 or we
Grünfeld Exchange System, for example. would have prepared it with ...Nfd7.
Besides, the overall effort to master the Instead, we want to keep the tension in the
king’s anchetto against the London is centre and prepare ...e5 only if White
relatively small, as Black’s play is weakens his kingside: 10.Qb3 Nd7 11.Rfe1
surprisingly clear and easy.
Qc8 12.Rad1 e6, see Game 1 Pakleza-
ings get even better if you already have Bartel, Katowice 2016.
the Grünfeld in your repertoire. en you
We could meet plans with a4 by the same
should consider the following move order:
...Nd7, ...e5.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6!?. Many adepts of the
London System hate to play 3.Bf4 here Do not close the centre with ...c4 unless
because of 3...d6, so they would have to you have something concrete in mind.
resort to the Barry Attack 3.Nc3, when
White saves h3
XIIIIIIIIY
White can deviate from this scenario in 9rsnlwq-trk+0
various ways. e most challenging plan is 9zpp+-zp-vlp0
to organise an attack on the h- le. His 9-+p+-zpp+0
strategic aim is to reach something like the 9+-+p+-+-0
following position:
9-+PzP-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-sN-zPNzP-0
9rsn-wq-trk+0 9PzP-+LzPP+0
9zpl+-zppvlp0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9-zp-+-snp+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-zppsN-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-zP0 White’s knight is active on c3 and that
forces Black to take a passive stand with
9+-zP-zP-+-0 ...e6.
9PzP-sNLzPP+0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 However, if White has already
xiiiiiiiiy committed his knight to d2, ...Nh5 is a fair
option as we would have time to occupy
Although White’s attack is not too the centre with ...e5:
dangerous, I cannot deny him an initiative. XIIIIIIIIY
e key point of his idea is the early leap
Ne5. My receipt is to oppose it by playing
9r+lwq-trk+0
Nh5, but not before White had played c3 9zpp+-zp-vlp0
or Nbd2. 9-+n+-zpp+0
9+-zpp+-+n0
When to play ...Nh5 9-+-zP-+-+0
Suppose we played ...Nh5 too early,
White answered Be5 and the following
9+-zP-zPNvL-0
position has arisen: 9PzP-sNLzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Nxg3 12.hxg3 e5 (or
after some preparation) 13.dxe5 fxe5 14.e4
Kh8∞.
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9r+l+-trk+0
9zppzp-zppvlp0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-+-+p+0 9-wqn+-snp+0
9+-+p+-+n0 9+-zppsN-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-+-zPN+-0 9+QzP-zP-+-0
9PzPPsNLzPPzP0 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9tRN+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
7.Be5 is no longer attractive due to 9...c4=. See Game 2 Michna-Kachiani,
7...f6, so White answers 7.Bg5. at Dresden 2014.
eliminates the threat of Ne5 in view of the
fork at f6, and we can comfortably return To summarise: If White delays h3, we
to our main plan: 7...c5 8.c3 b6. play ...Nh5, and if he delays Nbd2, we play
...Qb6.
White plays Bd3 instead of Be2
We follow the same scheme as against Positional decisions
Be2 – ...c5, ...b6, ...Nc6. If White omits e following examples could help you
h3, we answer ...Nh5. In general, the in practice when you have to take
important decisions.
development Bd3 hides less venom than
Be2, since the bishop does not control h5, XIIIIIIIIY
blocks the d- le and hampers Qb3 (in view 9r+-wq-tr-+0
of the fork ...c4). 9+l+-zppmkp0
White saves Nbd2
9-zp-+-snp+0
If White leaves his queen’s knight on b1 9zpLzpp+-+-0
for too long, we could exploit that by 9P+-zP-+-+0
hitting b2: 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.c3 Nc6 9+-zP-zP-+P0
8.Ne5 Qb6! 9.Qb3 9-zP-sN-zPP+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White often displays activity on the
queenside. Do not stop a4 with the semi-
automatic ...a5. at would open a hole at
b5 and would deprive our pawn formation
of exibility. One possible way to exploit it
XIIIIIIIIY
is 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.c4 with the better pawn Do not trade light-squared bishops too
structure. early. is piece may be passive, but it
hampers White’s active plans with e4 or c4.
Here is another example: Furthermore, our knight would take a really
XIIIIIIIIY bad place on a6 instead of his natural stand
9-+rwq-trk+0 on c6:
9+l+nzppvlp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-zpn+-+p+0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpLzpp+-+-0 9zp-sn-zppvlp0
9Q+-zP-vL-+0 9-zp-+-snp+0
9+-zP-zPN+P0 9+-zpp+-+-0
9PzP-sN-zPP+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9tR-+R+-mK-0 9+-zP-zPN+P0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-sN-zPP+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
13.c4! cxd4 14.cxd5 Nc5?! 15.dxc6 Nxa4
16.cxb7 Rc7 17.Bxa4 Rxb7 18.exd4±,
xiiiiiiiiy
Spark 1.0-Hiarcs 13.2, 2011. 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Be5 Ne6 13.c4.
Sedlak in Winning With the Modern It is indicative that both authors claim
London System, 2016, bases his White that the early h3 is “just a waste of time”,
repertoire on 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c5 but completely fail (or avoid) to analyse
XIIIIIIIIY Black’s most principled retort to the lines
they advocate.
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 I encourage you to try yourself the
9-+-+-snp+0 Grünfeld set-up. You will be surprised how
9+-zpp+-+-0 easy and natural Black’s play is.
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-+-zPN+-0
9PzPP+LzPPzP0
9tRN+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Chapter 1. 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 g6
Step by Step
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9rsnl+-trk+0
9zppzp-zppvlp0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-+-snp+0 9-wq-+-snp+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-zpp+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-+-zPN+-0 9+-+-zPN+-0
9PzPP+LzPPzP0 9PzPPsNLzPPzP0
9tRN+Q+RmK-0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
6...c5! 8.c4
We no longer fear the attack with h2-h4-
8.Rb1 Nc6 9.c3?! drops the b2-pawn
h5, but on the other hand, White preserved
owing to 9...cxd4 10.exd4 Bf5.
the possibility of playing c4, Nc3, e.g.
6...b6 7.c4 Bb7 8.Nc3. Romero mentions 8.dxc5 Qxb2 9.Be5=.
Indeed, 9...Qb4 10.c4 Qxc5 11.Nb3
6...Nh5 is dubious owing to the same Qc6 12.Rc1 Nbd7 13.Bf4 promises
reason – 7.Be5! f6 8.Bg3 Nxg3 9.hxg3 e5 White just enough compensation for the
10.c4 e4 11.Nfd2 c5 12.Nb3². pawn although Black could play this for
a win.
erefore, we should create the threat
...Qb6 in order to narrow the enemy’s 8.Qc1 puts White on the defensive after
choice. 8...Nc6 – 9.c3 Nh5.
8...cxd4 9.Nxd4 (9.exd4 Qxb2) 9...Nc6
7.c3 10.Nxc6 bxc6=, Pecorelli-Fedorowicz,
7.Nc3 cxd4 8.exd4 Nc6 9.Ne5 Bf5 is Havana 1985.
perfectly comfortable.
7...Nc6
7.Nbd2 offers us an additional possibility 7...Qb6 8.Qb3 c4 does not transposes as
– 7...Qb6 after 9.Qa3 Nc6 White has 10.b3!, which is
more useful than Dreev’s 10.Nbd2.
Note that 7...Nc6! transposes after 8.c3
Qb6 or 8.dxc5 Nh5 9.c3 d4!. Only 8.Nbd2
8.Ne5 is of independent signi cance, 8.dxc5?! surrenders the centre after
but it hardly deserves any attention – 8...Ne4 – this is the price of delaying
8...cxd4 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.exd4 Qb6. Nbd2!
XIIIIIIIIY
11.Nxc6 (11.f3 Nd6 12.Nxc6 bxc6) 9.Be5
11...Qxc6 (11...bxc6÷) 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Ne1?! (11.Bg3
XIIIIIIIIY Nxg3=) runs into 11...cxd4! 12.cxd4 Nf4!.
9r+l+-trk+0 9.dxc5 d4 10.cxd4 Nxf4 11.exf4 Nxd4
9zpp+-zppvlp0 12.Nc4, Arnold-Spiriev, Hungary 1989,
9-+q+-+p+0 12...Qd5! regains the pawn and the bishop
9+-+p+-+-0 pair fully compensate the split pawns after
9-+pzPnvL-+0 13.Nxd4 Qxd4 14.Qxd4 Bxd4 15.c6 bxc6
9wQ-zP-zP-+-0 16.Rfd1 c5=.
9PzP-+LzPPzP0 9...f6 10.Bg3 cxd4 11.cxd4 Nxg3
9tRN+-+RmK-0 12.hxg3
XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+lwq-trk+0
It turns out that Black has enough 9zpp+-zp-vlp0
compensation for the pawn after 12.Qxe7 9-+n+-zpp+0
g5 13.Bg3 because of his space advantage. 9+-+p+-+-0
For instance:
9-+-zP-+-+0
13...f5 14.Bf3 f4 15.exf4 Rf7 16.Qd8+ 9+-+-zPNzP-0
Rf8 is a draw while 16.Qa3?? loses to 9PzP-sNLzPP+0
16...Bf8 17.b4 gxf4 18.Bh4 a5 19.Qc1 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
Qh6, or: xiiiiiiiiy
13...Bf5 14.b3 b5 15.a4 a6 16.bxc4 bxc4 It is clear that Black has solved the
17.a5 Rae8 18.Qc7 Qa8 19.Bf3 Re6 opening problems. He could quietly ditch
20.Bxe4 Bxe4 21.Rc1 Bd3. himself behind the pawns, but the bishop
pair dictates to open up the centre with
8...Nh5 12...e5!? 13.dxe5 fxe5 14.e4 Kh8÷.
is is our typical reaction when White
tries to save h3. D. 5.Bd3 0-0 6.0-0
After 6.Nbd2, we attack the centre with
8...b6, as in line A, is also possible, even
6...c5 7.c3 Nc6
though Black is practically a tempo down:
9.Ne5 In contrast with line C, we are not afraid
of 8.dxc5 as 8...Nfd7 threatens to fork a
Or 9.dxc5 bxc5 10.c4 Nh5 11.cxd5 piece with ...e7-e5-e4.
Nxf4 12.dxc6 Nxe2+ 13.Qxe2 Qb6.
8.0-0
9...Bb7 10.b4 c4 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.a4 a6
13.a5 (13.e4 dxe4) 13...b5 14.Be5 Bh6=. 8.Ne5 allows 8...Nh5.
8.h3 b6 achieves the set-up from line A,
XIIIIIIIIY
although even better is to save ...b6 in 9r+lwq-trk+0
favour of 8...Nd7. e recent game 9zpp+-zppvlp0
Jojua-Mchedlishvili, Tbilisi 2017, lasted 9-+n+-snp+0
only 3 more moves: 9.0-0 e5 10.dxe5 9+-zpp+-+-0
Ndxe5 11.Be2 Nxf3+ ½-½. 9-+-zP-vL-+0
8...Nh5, transposing to the main line. 9+-zPLzPN+-0
6...c5 7.c3
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
9rsnlwq-trk+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-+-snp+0 8...Nh5
9+-zpp+-+-0 is is the easiest way to win the battle
9-+-zP-vL-+0 for the e5-square. 8...Nfd7 is not so
effective in view of 9.Bb5.
9+-zPLzPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9.Bg5 Qd6
9tRN+Q+RmK-0 Two computer games nished in a draw
xiiiiiiiiy after 9...h6 10.Bh4 Qb6 11.Rb1 cxd4, but
I would not alter the pawn structure in this
7...Nc6 way since Black would remain without the
Black could exploit the placement of the plan of pushing ...e5.
bishop on d3 to gain space with 7...Qb6!? 10.dxc5
8.Qb3 c4 as White cannot answer 9.Qa3. White cannot keep the tension in the
From a theoretical standpoint, this is centre with 10.Re1 because 10...e5 11.dxe5
perhaps the best continuation. With the
Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Qxe5 equalizes at once –
knight still on b1, White cannot defend the
13.Bh4 Bf6 (13...Qc7 14.e4 d4 15.cxd4
b2-pawn with Rb1 and has to trade queens.
Bxd4=) 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.e4 dxe4 16.Bxe4
e position after 9.Qxb6 axb6 10.Bc2 b5!
Qg5=.
(e trick is that 11.Na3?! would run into
11...b4! 12.cxb4 Na6 13.b5 Nb4 14.Rfc1 10...Qxc5 11.e4 dxe4!
Bd7 15.Ne5 Be6 16.h3 Rfc8 with a strong 11...Nf6 12.h3 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4
pressure on the queenside.) 11.Nbd2 Bf5 is 14.Bxe4 Be6 15.Qa4 Bc4 16.Be3 Qb5
ne for Black although a little too static to 17.Qxb5 Bxb5 18.Rfd1 was in White’s
play it for a win. favour in Beliavsky-Faibisovich, Leningrad
1967.
8.Nbd2
12.Bxe4 Nf6 (or 12...Qb6 rst) 13.Nb3
Qb6
XIIIIIIIIY
Black has a comfortable game. After 15.Re1 Re8= or 14...bxc6 15.Re1 Re8
14.Bxc6, both captures are solid: 14...Qxc6 16.h3 Qc7=.
Chapter 1. 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 g6
Annotated Games
XIIIIIIIIY
1. Pakleza – Bartel 9-+r+r+-mk0
9zpq+n+-vlp0
Warsaw 17.01.2010 9-zp-+pzpp+0
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Nf3 0-0 9sn-zpp+-+-0
5.Be2 b6 6.0-0 c5 7.c3 Bb7 8.h3 d5 9-+-zP-+-+0
9.Nbd2 Nfd7 10.Qb3 Nc6 11.Rad1
XIIIIIIIIY 9zP-zP-zPNvLP0
9r+-wq-trk+0 9-zPQ+RzPP+0
9+-+R+NmK-0
9zpl+nzppvlp0
9-zpn+-+p+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-zpp+-+-0 e computer chose 21...f5 and went on
9-+-zP-vL-+0 to draw eventually. I admit that this natural
move is perhaps best, but it is difficult to
9+QzP-zPN+P0 win after it. A human player might prefer
9PzP-sNLzPP+0 21...e5 22.dxe5 fxe5 23.Red2 e4 24.N3h2
9+-+R+RmK-0 with two sharp options: 24...Nc4 25.Rxd5
xiiiiiiiiy Nf6 26.Rg5 Bh6 and 24...c4 25.Rxd5 Nc5
26.f3 Nd3, with mutual chances in both
Chances are even, but what should Black lines.
do from here? is game offers a good
model to follow. e rst step is to evacuate And here is an example where White
the queen and consolidate the centre. pushed e4: 12...Rd8 13.Bg3 e6 14.Rc1 Ba6
15.Qd1 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 Qb7 17.e4
11...Qc8 12.Rfe1 e6
We can observe similar manoeuvring in
the computer game Equinox 3.30-Protector
1.7 2015:
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY to me as we’ll stay pretty, but without a
9r+-tr-+k+0 clear plan.
9zpq+n+pvlp0
9-zpn+p+p+0 It seems that the higher rated player,
Bartel, opted for a waiting game.
9+-zpp+-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0 15...Re8 16.Ng3 Na5 17.Qa4 Qc6
9+-zP-+NvLP0 18.Qc2 Rac8 19.Qe2 f5
9PzP-sNQzPP+0 In the last 5 moves White has improved
9+-tR-tR-mK-0 his queen while Black has achieved
nothing. Bartel reasonably decides to secure
xiiiiiiiiy himself against an opening of the centre.
17...Rac8 18.exd5 exd5 19.Nb3 ½-½, However, I like 19...cxd4!?, intending to
Ribli-Adorjan, Hungary 1995. trade queens with 20.exd4 Qc4!.
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+r+k+0 9r+-tr-+k+0
9+p+l+pvl-0 9+p+-zppvl-0
9-+n+p+p+0 9-+n+-snp+0
9+p+p+-+p0 9+p+psNl+p0
9-+pzP-vL-+0 9-+pzP-vL-+0
9zP-zP-zPL+P0 9zP-zP-zP-+P0
9-zP-sN-zPP+0 9-zP-sNLzPP+0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0 9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
17.Rad1². 15.Nef3 Ra6 16.Ng5 Rda8 17.Rad1
Nd8 18.Bf3 Ne6 19.Nxe6 Rxe6 ½-½.
Black would be ne if she prevented e4
by putting a piece on e4, or if she activated 13.h3 Ne6 14.Bh2 Ng5 15.f3 h5 16.h4
his light-squared bishop with the Ne6 17.g4 Nd8 18.g5 Nd7 19.Nxd7
manoeuvre ...Bc8-f5-d3: Bxd7
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-sn-trk+0
9r+-tr-+k+0 9+p+lzppvl-0
9+p+-zppvlp0 9-+-+-+p+0
9-+n+-snp+0 9+p+p+-zPp0
9+p+psNl+-0 9-+pzP-+-zP0
9-+pzP-vL-+0 9zP-zP-zPP+-0
9zP-zP-zPL+P0 9-zP-sNL+-vL0
9-zP-sN-zPP+0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
14...Ne4= 15.Nxe4 Bxe4. 20.e4!
Had Black one tempo, she would have
12...Nd8?! blocked everything with 20...f6 21.f4 f5,
Kachiani chooses a passive set-up. but now White takes the initiative.
Perhaps simplest was to prevent any White
expansion on the kingside with 12...h5 20...Bc6 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.a4 Rxa4
13.h3 Be6, but 13...Bf5 was also ne in the 23.Rxa4 bxa4 24.Bxc4?!
game Nocci-Ruggieri, ICCF 2009 – 24.Nxc4 would have been more
14.Rfe1 Rfd8 unpleasant. Black would still be able to
hold thanks to the tactics 24...Nc6 25.Nb6
Nxd4 26.Nxd5 Nxe2+ 27.Kf2 Nd4!=. e
XIIIIIIIIY
a-pawn suddenly enters play in a 27...Rd8
marvellous fashion. 27...f6! 28.gxf6 Bxf6 29.Nd7 Rd8
30.Nxf6+ exf6 was easier to play with
e attempt to improve with 25.Re1 e6 Black.
26.Kg2 is neutralised by 26...Bxc4!
27.Bxc4 Rc8. 28.Kf1 f6 29.Re1 Kf7 30.gxf6?!
It was better to remain active with 29.d5
24...Bxc4 25.Nxc4 b5 26.Nb6 Ne6 Nc5 30.Bc7 Re8 31.Kg2. e text
27.Rd1 practically drops the h4-pawn.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0 30...Bxf6 31.Bg3 g5?
9+-+-zppvl-0 e pawn was doomed after 31...Ng7,
9-sN-+n+p+0 but Black exchanges it!
9+p+-+-zPp0
32.hxg5 Nxg5 33.Kf2 Ne6 34.Re4 Ng5
9p+-zP-+-zP0 35.Re1 Ne6 36.Re4 Ng5 37.Re1 Ne6 ½-
9+-zP-+P+-0 ½
9-zP-+-+-vL0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Chapter 2. e Barry Attack 3.Bf4 g6
4.Nc3
Main Ideas
In the diagram position the staunchest
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7
XIIIIIIIIY advocate of the Barry Attack, Hebden, opts
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 for:
9zppzp-zppvlp0 5.Qd2. He counts on a quick attack with
9-+-+-snp+0 0-0-0, Bh6 and h4, so he refrains from e3.
9+-+p+-+-0 en 5...Ne4 forces exchanges in the centre
9-+-zP-vL-+0 and practically takes the sting out of
9+-sN-+N+-0 White’s plan – see Game 3 Cooper-
9PzPP+PzPPzP0 Batchelor, email ICCF email 2011.
However, it reduces our own striking power
9tR-+QmKL+R0 as well.
xiiiiiiiiy
I suggest to pick up the gauntlet and
e Barry Attack is surprisingly popular, ignore completely the attack with:
although the typical move order is 2.Nf3 g6
3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4. I found in my database 5...c6!?
about 5000 games which reached the
diagram position, but only a hundred of is opens a path for the queen to the
them followed the sequence of my main queenside and prepares ...b5-b4. e latter
line. Obviously White chooses the Barry is a nasty threat since Black would gain
Attack reluctantly, just to avoid King’s control over e4. e key point of our set-up
Indian set-ups with ...d6, and prefers 4.e3 is the line 6.Bh6 Bxh6! 7.Qxh6 Bf5 8.0-0-
and Nbd2 when he has a choice. at is a 0 b5! 9.Ne5
strong hint for players with ...g6 in their
repertoire. For instance, I’m not afraid of
entering the Grünfeld, so I would choose
against a London player 2...g6!. I believe
that Black has a ne game after 3.Nc3 d5,
with more active options than in the event
of 2...d5 3.Bf4 g6 4.e3 followed by c3.
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY On 7.a3 we answer 7...Bg4 and do not
9rsn-wqk+-tr0 rush with castling.
9zp-+-zpp+p0
9-+p+-snpwQ0 We saw that the direct attack with Qd2,
9+p+psNl+-0 Bh6 was not too efficient. at explains the
popularity of the slower approach:
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0 5.e3 0-0 6.Be2
9PzPP+PzPPzP0 In this line White preserves the option of
9+-mKR+L+R0 castling in both directions. He could still
play Ne5, h4, but if we weaken our
xiiiiiiiiy queenside, he may shift his attention
It may look dangerous for us, but in fact leftwards.
our attacking prospects are more XIIIIIIIIY
substantial. White should desperately seek 9rsnlwq-trk+0
counterplay with e2-e4 or he will become
clearly worse. For instance, 9...b4 10.e4!
9zppzp-zppvlp0
would be unclear. More promising for 9-+-+-snp+0
Black is 9...Qa5!? 10.e4! Nxe4 (10...dxe4=), 9+-+p+-+-0
or 9...Nbd7!? 10.e4!∞. 9-+-zP-vL-+0
5.h4 is a modi cation of Hebden’s plan.
9+-sN-zPN+-0
White is planning e3, Be2, Ne5, h4. He 9PzPP+LzPPzP0
refrains from Qd2 in order to avoid ...Ne4. 9tR-+QmK-+R0
I suggest to answer it with: 5...c6 6.e3 xiiiiiiiiy
(6.Ne5 Qb6) 6...Qb6!?, aiming to provoke
weaknesses on the queenside that would We could answer 6...c5 7.Ne5 Nc6 –
prevent White from castling there. Game 5 Wang-So, Edmonton 2014. 6...c6
is also consistent, albeit less active.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+k+-tr0 My practice shows that after 6.Be2 we
9zpp+-zppvlp0 have a simple way of levelling the game at
9-wqp+-snp+0 once:
9+-+p+-+-0 6...Bg4!?
9-+-zP-vL-zP0 is offers Black an easy game with
9+-sN-zPN+-0 simple decisions to make. More
9PzPP+-zPP+0 importantly, we do not need to know any
theory after it. Note that the bishop sortie
9tR-+QmKL+R0 would have been premature one move
xiiiiiiiiy earlier as White’s queen would have
obtained an active stand after 6.h3 Bxf3
7.Qxf3. With the actual move order, 7.h3
XIIIIIIIIY
Bxf3 8.Bxf3 c6 leaves White without a 9rsnlwq-trk+0
clear plan – see my Game 6 Miles-Kiril 9zpp+-zppvlp0
Georgiev, Wijk aan Zee 1989. 9-+-+-snp+0
9+-zpp+-+-0
7.Ne5 Bxe2 8.Qxe2 Nbd7 9.h4 c5 10.0-
0-0 Rc8
9-+-zP-vL-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-sN-zPN+P0
9-+rwq-trk+0 9PzPP+-zPP+0
9zpp+nzppvlp0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9-+-+-snp+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-zppsN-+-0
e trick is that 7.dxc5 runs into
9-+-zP-vL-zP0 7...Nbd7! 8.Be2 Ne4!μ.
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzPP+QzPP+0 Here is another example:
9+-mKR+-+R0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9-trl+-trk+0
The exchange sacri ce on c3 should offer
9zp-+-wqpvlp0
us a lasting initiative. 9-+p+-+p+0
9+Nzpp+-+-0
...c6 or ...c5? 9-+-zPn+-+0
By refraining from c4, White gains a
tempo for his development, but allows us to
9+-+-zP-+P0
expand with ...c6 and ...b5. 9PzPP+-zPPvL0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
In short, plans with ...c6 are always xiiiiiiiiy
possible against the Barry Attack, but they
are most effective against long castling. 14.Bxb8 cxd4!! with an overwhelming
Note that after 5.Qd2 c6 White cannot attack.
comfortably switch to the plan with e3,
Be2, 0-0 due to ...b5, ...Bb7, when ...Ne4 eoretical Status
would be a constant threat. Nikola Sedlak does not grant in his book
any attention to the Barry Attack at all.
An early ...c5 is called for when White
delays development, commonly with an Alfonso Romero and Oscar de Prado
early h3. at enables typical Grünfeld consider mostly irrelevant lines so their
motifs: coverage is of no interest to us. eir main
game features 5.e3 0-0 6.Be2 c6 (?!) 7.h4
Bg4 8.Ne5 Bxe2 9.Qxe2. My proposition
is 6...Bg4! and then ...c5, while 6...c6 is
XIIIIIIIIY
unnecessarily passive against White’s or shift the focus of the game to the ank
harmless development. with ...c6 and ...b5.
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY It is possible to de ne immediately the
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 centre with 9...cxd4 10.exd4 Nd7, as
9zppzp-zppvlp0 11.Nxd7 Qxd7 12.Be3 is roughly equal
9-+-+-+p+0 after 12...b5 13.Be2 Bb7=.
9+-+-sN-+-0 10.0-0-0
9-+-zPpvL-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 10.Nxd7 Qxd7! has been tested in
several games, where White has to play
9PzPPwQPzPPzP0 carefully in order to maintain the
9tR-+-mKL+R0 balance:
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
7...c5!?
9r+l+-trk+0
9zpp+qzppvlp0
7...Nd7 has established itself as a solid 9-+-+-+p+0
equalizer in correspondence chess. See 9+-zp-+-+-0
Game 3 Cooper-Batchelor, email ICCF
email 2011.
9-+LzPpvL-+0
9+-+-zP-+-0
e text is sharper and gives more
chances to ght for a full point.
9PzPPwQ-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
8.e3
xiiiiiiiiy
8.dxc5?! Qxd2+ 9.Kxd2 hands Black
the initiative: 9...0-0 10.e3 Be6 11.Rd1 11.dxc5 Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2 Bxb2 13.Rab1
Rc8 12.Kc1 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Rxc6 Rd8+ 14.Ke2 Ba3 15.Rhd1 Bg4+ 16.f3
14.Kb1 Rxc5 15.f3 (15.Be2 h5 16.h4 Rxd1 17.Rxd1 Bf5 is obviously drawish,
Bxa2+! 17.Kxa2 Rxc2) 15...Rac8 but:
16.Rd2 Rd5ƒ. 11.c3 could be dangerous for White –
8...0-0 9.Bc4 11...b5! 12.Be2 Bb7÷ (12...b4!?; 12...a5
13.Rd1 a4 14.a3 c4÷), when the greedy
9.0-0-0 cxd4 10.exd4 Nd7 is balanced, 13.dxc5 Qc6ƒ 14.b4 runs into 14...a5
e.g. 11.Nxd7 Qxd7 12.d5 Qa4 13.Kb1 15.Rb1 Rfd8 16.Qb2 Rd3!!μ 17.Bxd3
Rd8= or 11.Qe3 Qa5 12.Bc4 Nb6 exd3 18.f3 axb4 19.Qxb4 Ra4 20.Qb3
13.Bb3 Be6∞. Qxc5.
9.Be2 has no venom. A good line for 10...cxd4 11.exd4 Nxe5 12.dxe5
Black is 9...Be6 10.c3 Nd7 11.Nxd7 (12.Bxe5 Bxe5 13.dxe5 Qc7 14.Qc3 Be6=)
Qxd7 12.0-0 Rac8 13.h3 Rfd8=. 12...Qc7
9...Nd7
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zppwq-zppvlp0 9zppzp-zppvlp0
9-+-+-+p+0 9-+-+-snpvL0
9+-+-zP-+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+L+pvL-+0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzPPwQ-zPPzP0 9PzPPwQPzPPzP0
9+-mKR+-+R0 9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
13.Qc3 a) 6...c6
Or 13.Bd5 Bxe5 14.Bxe5 Qxe5 15.Qe3 It turns out that White’s attack is not
Bf5 16.h3=. developing smoothly owing to the
weakness of the g4-square.
13...Be6 14.Bxe6
7.Bxg7
14.Bb3 Qxc3 15.bxc3 Rac8 16.Kb2
Rc5 17.Rhe1, Hebden-Hunt, England Hebden employed 7.h4, but I do not see
2011, could be dangerous only for what White could oppose to 7...Bxh6!
White after 17...Bxe5 18.Bxe5 Rxe5 8.Qxh6 Qb6. e only game in my
19.f4 Rh5 20.h3 Bxb3 21.axb3 f5 database went 9.0-0-0 Ng4 10.Qf4
22.Rd7 g5 23.fxg5 Rxg5 24.g4 e6 Nxf2 11.Qh6 Nd7–+, Kohout-
25.Rxb7 f4!?. Svoboda, Czechia 2009.
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 10...Nxe4 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Qg7 Rf8
9rsn-wqk+-tr0 13.Nxd7 Kxd7! 14.f3 Bf5 15.Qxh7 Qc7=
9zpp+-zpp+p0 is also possible, if you prefer calmer play.
9-+p+-snpwQ0
9+-+p+l+-0 11.dxe5
Black’s chances are slightly better after
9-+-zP-+-+0 11.exf5 Neg4 12.Qh4 g5 13.Qxg5 b4
9+-sN-+N+-0 14.Na4 Qd6 due to the weakness of f2.
9PzPP+PzPPzP0
9+-mKR+L+R0 11...Nxe4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.e6! Qd6
XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+-+k+-tr0
9zp-+-zpp+p0
8...b5
Revealing the main idea behind 5...c6.
9-+pwqP+pwQ0
e threat of ...b4 does not leave White a 9+p+p+-+-0
choice. 9-+-+l+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
e slower 8...Nbd7 gives time for 9.h3
b5 10.g4 Be4 11.Bg2 Qc7 12.Rhf1 a5
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.Bxe4 9+-mKR+L+R0
Nc4∞. xiiiiiiiiy
9.Ne5 Nbd7 A critical position. White has enough
compensation, but he must nd a series of
9...Qa5!? is a fair alternative. After 10.e4
(10.a3 b4), Black could force a draw by strong moves to prove it – 14.f3 Bf5
repetition with 10...dxe4 11.d5 b4 12.Nc4 15.exf7+ Kxf7 16.g4 Bd7 17.h4 Raf8
Qc5 13.Na4 Qxf2 14.Rd2 Qe1+ 15.Rd1 17...a5 18.Bd3 a4 seems too arrogant,
Qf2, or play on for a win with 10...Nxe4 although White is unable to extract
11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.a3 a6 13.Be2 Qc7∞. anything substantial from his attacking
position – 19.a3 e5 20.h5 Qf6 21.Qd2
10.e4!?
is looks somewhat desperate, but it is Qf4 22.Qxf4+ exf4 23.g5!=.
the only way to distract Black from the 18.h5 Ke8 19.Re1!? Kd8 20.Qe3 d4
queenside. 10.Nxd7 Kxd7! helps Black to 21.Qd2 g5 22.Re4 Rf4 23.Qa5+=.
evacuate his king to a safer place and to set
up connection between the heavy pieces. A2. 6.e3 Nbd7
6...Nh5!? is always an option when
10.e3?! cedes the centre in view of White saved h3. 7.Be5
10...b4 11.Na4 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Ng4.
7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Nd7 10.0-0-
10...Nxe5 0 is risky for White – 10...Nxg3
11.hxg3 b5 12.Kb1 Rb8 13.Qe1 b4 14.Bxb5?! (14.bxc5 Nxc5) 14...cxd4
14.Na4 Qa5 15.b3 e6. 15.exd4 h6 16.Nxf7 Rxf7³.
7...f6 8.Bxb8 9...a6 10.Ne5 Bb7 11.b4
11.h4 is more enterprising, but risky. It
Or 8.Bf4 Nxf4 9.exf4 Bg4 10.Be2 Nd7
would be more to the point in schemes
11.0-0-0 Qc7.
without e3.
8...Rxb8 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nh4 e5 11.Bxh5
gxh5 12.0-0-0÷. e only White’s threat is Black can allow h4-h5 with 11...c5
Nc3-e2-g3-f5, but we could prevent it with 12.h5 e6 13.Bg5 Qc7 or opt for the
the manoeuvre 12...Bh6!? 13.Ne2 Bg5. more challenging:
11...h5 12.g4 (12.0-0-0 c5) 12...Nxe5
7.h3 0-0
XIIIIIIIIY 13.Bxe5 Nxg4 14.Bxg4 hxg4 15.h5 f6
9r+lwq-trk+0 16.Bg3 Bc8! 17.hxg6 Bf5 where Black is
9zpp+nzppvlp0 better on both wings.
9-+p+-snp+0 11...a5
9+-+p+-+-0 We have been following the game Eslon-
9-+-zP-vL-+0 Ubilava, Terrassa 1996, where Black simply
9+-sN-zPN+P0 blocked everything with 12.0-0 a4 13.Rae1
Nb6 14.Bh2 Ne8 15.e4 e6 16.Ng4 Nd6
9PzPPwQ-zPP+0 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.e5 Qe7 19.f4 Bc8
9tR-+-mKL+R0 20.Qe3 Bd7 21.Nb1 h5 22.Nh2 f5 23.Nf3
xiiiiiiiiy Bh6 24.h4 Kf7 25.g3 Kg8 26.c3 ½-½.
Nothing urged him to close the queenside
8.Be2 though. He could safely play on with either
8.Bd3 does not make sense ,as the bishop 12...Re8 or 12...Nxe5, having ...e5 in
bytes on the granite g6-pawn and leaves h5 mind.
without control. A good retort is to gain
space on the queenside with 8...b5 9.Ne5 Even more straightforward was 11...Ne8
Bb7 10.0-0 a5 11.a3, and then turn to the 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.0-0 f6 14.e4 e5 15.Be3
centre with 11...Nxe5 (or 11...Nb6 12.b4 Nc7 with mutual chances.
e6) 12.Bxe5 Bh6= 13.Qe1 Nd7 14.Bg3
Bg7 15.f4 e6. A3. 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.h4
7.f3 Nh5 8.Nxd7 Nxf4 9.Ne5 offers
8...b5 9.a3 Black a pleasant choice:
9.0-0 is harmless – 9...Bb7, and White
cannot establish a favourable dark-squared 9...f6!? 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Qxf4 0-0 12.e4
blockade. For example, 10.a3 a5, or 10.b4 (12.Qd2 Rb8 13.Na4 e5 14.e3 Qe7
a5 11.a3 Ne4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Ng5 c5 15.Be2 Bh6μ) 12...e5 13.dxe5 Rb8
14.Qd2 Rxb2 15.exd5 cxd5 16.Qxd5+ For instance: 10.e3 Kf8 (10...a5 11.Bd3
Qxd5 17.Nxd5 Rxc2°; Kf8 12.0-0 Nd7 13.Bg3 Qb6 14.Qf2
Bb7 15.Ne2 c5 16.c3 Kg8) 11.Bd3
9...Bxe5 10.dxe5 Ne6 11.e4 d4 12.Ne2 Nd7 12.Bxg7+ Kxg7 13.e4.
c5 13.Ng3 Qb6 14.b3 Bd7 15.Bc4 Bb5
16.Bd3 0-0-0∞. 9.Nxe4 Bxe5 10.dxe5 dxe4. e arising
endgame is drawish:
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0 11.0-0-0
9zpp+nzppvlp0 11.Qxd8+ Kxd8 12.0-0-0+ Kc7 13.e3
9-+p+-snp+0 Bf5 14.a3 Rad8 15.Bc4 f6.
9+-+psN-+-0
11...Qxd2+ 12.Rxd2 (12.Kxd2 f5
9-+-zP-vL-zP0 13.exf6 exf6 14.Ke3 Ke7) 12...f6 13.h5 g5
9+-sN-+-+-0 14.exf6 exf6 15.f3 Ke7!=.
9PzPPwQPzPP+0
9tR-+-mKL+R0 8.Bh2 Nxe5 9.dxe5 f6 10.exf6 Nxf6
xiiiiiiiiy 11.f3 0-0 12.0-0-0 Be6!?
Chatalbashev-Avrukh, Benidorm2008,
saw 12...b5 13.e4 Qa5 (13...b4!? 14.Na4
7...Nh5!?
Qa5 15.b3 dxe4 16.Bc4+ Kh8∞) 14.a3 d4
7...Nxe5 8.Bxe5 (8.dxe5 Ng4 9.e4 d4³)
15.Qxd4 Ng4 16.Qc5 Nxh2 17.Rxh2 Qc7
8...Ne4 looks rather dull, but it is the
simplest solution. 18.Rh1 Be6 19.Kb1 Be5 20.h5 g5 21.h6
Rf6 22.Ne2 Bf7 23.Nd4 Qd6 24.b4 a5
Black could also stop the h-pawn with 25.Be2 ½-½.
8...h5 9.f3 b5
XIIIIIIIIY 13.g4 (13.e3 Qa5) 13...Qa5
9r+lwqk+-tr0 Black’s attack would be faster after
14.h5?! d4 15.Qxd4 Nxg4 16.Qe4 Bxa2μ,
9zp-+-zppvl-0 so White should probably switch to defence
9-+p+-snp+0 with 14.a3.
9+p+pvL-+p0
9-+-zP-+-zP0 B. 5.h4
is is a modi cation of the plan from
9+-sN-+P+-0 line A. White is planning e3, Be2, Ne5, h4.
9PzPPwQP+P+0 He refrains from Qd2 in order to avoid
9tR-+-mKL+R0 ...Ne4. I suggest to answer it again with:
xiiiiiiiiy
5...c6
A sharp ght is ahead, but Black’s
kingside is permanently compromised. Our idea is to play ...Qb6. en Rb1
would cancel long castling, while Na4
Qa5+ would provoke c3, b4. White would
XIIIIIIIIY
hardly risk to “hide” his king on that wing. 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
Another possible plan is 5...0-0 6.e3 c5 9-+p+-snp+0
7.Qd2 cxd4 8.exd4 Nc6 9.Ne5, Inarkiev- 9+-+p+-+-0
Volokitin, blitz, Doha 2016, when Black
could open the centre with 9...Ng4!?
9-+-zP-vL-zP0
10.Nxg4 Bxg4 11.Be2 Bxe2 12.Nxe2 e5„. 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzPP+-zPP+0
6.e3 9tR-+QmKL+R0
6.Ne5 Qb6 7.Na4 Qa5+ 8.c3 Nbd7 xiiiiiiiiy
9.e3 0-0 10.Be2 6...Qb6!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 is move has occurred in only one
game. More popular is 6...Bg4 7.Be2
9zpp+nzppvlp0 Nbd7 8.Ne5 Bxe2 9.Qxe2 h5 10.0-0-0,
9-+p+-snp+0
9wq-+psN-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9N+-zP-vL-zP0 9r+-wqk+-tr0
9+-zP-zP-+-0 9zpp+nzppvl-0
9PzP-+LzPP+0 9-+p+-snp+0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9+-+psN-+p0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-zP-vL-zP0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
Now 10...h5 is a natural way to cut 9PzPP+QzPP+0
across White’s plan. His further attempts to 9+-mKR+-+R0
attack could only compromise his position:
xiiiiiiiiy
11.b4 Qd8 12.Nc5 a5 13.Nexd7 Nxd7 but I do not like this course of events.
14.g4 axb4 15.cxb4 e5! 16.Nxd7 exf4 White’s pieces are clearly more active and
(16...Qxd7 is also good) 17.Nxf8 Qxf8 he has no weaknesses around his king. e
18.a3 Qe7 19.gxh5 fxe3 20.Qd3 exf2+ latest game Karjakin-Giri, blitz, Stavanger
21.Kxf2 c5!μ. 2017, saw 10...Qa5 11.Kb1 Rc8 12.e4ƒ. Li
Chao had previously tried against Karjakin
11.Nd3 Re8! e threat of ...e5 should
10...Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Qd7 12.f3ƒ.
make White castle short – 12.0-0 Qd8
13.Nac5 e5!? (or 13...Nxc5 14.Nxc5 Ng4 7.a3
15.f3 e5=) 14.dxe5 Nxc5 15.Nxc5 Ng4 7.Rb1 Bg4 is a greatly improved version
16.Bxg4 hxg4ƒ. of 6...Bg4.
XIIIIIIIIY
7.Na4 Qa5+ 8.c3 Nbd7 9.Be2 0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
10.b4 Qd8. e queen has ful lled its 9rsnlwq-trk+0
mission. Now White cannot castle long. 9zpp+-zppvlp0
e c5-square is not of any use for him, 9-+-+-snp+0
and the b4-pawn gives us a lever on the 9+-zpp+-+-0
queenside – 11.0-0 b6 12.Nb2 Bb7 13.a4 9-+-zP-vL-+0
a5 14.Qc2 axb4 15.cxb4 c5 16.dxc5 bxc5
17.bxc5 Rc8 18.Nd3 Ne4 19.Rac1 Qa5=.
9+-sN-zPN+P0
9PzPP+-zPP+0
7...Bg4 8.Na4 Qd8 9.Nc5 Ne4 10.Nd3
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9rsn-wqk+-tr0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpp+-zppvlp0 7.Be2
9-+p+-+p+0
e point is that 7.dxc5, played by
9+-+p+-+-0 Capablanca and Aronian (in blitz), runs
9-+-zPnvLlzP0 into 7...Nbd7! 8.Be2 Ne4!μ.
9zP-+NzPN+-0 7.Nb5 is a strike at the air owing to
9-zPP+-zPP+0 7...Ne4!. White does win a pawn with
9tR-+QmKL+R0 8.Bc7 Qd7 9.Bxb8 Rxb8 10.Nxa7, but
xiiiiiiiiy his queenside is terribly weakened by the
lack of the dark-squared bishop. After
10...Nd7 10...cxd4, he should concede to a
10...0-0 11.Be2 c5 12.c3 Nd7 is a bit slightly worse position following
more risky. 11.Nxd4 (as 11.exd4 Qa4 12.Nxc8
Qb4+ 13.c3 loses to 13...Qxb2!)
11.Be2 f6 12.Bh2 a5∞ 11...Qd6 12.Nxc8 Rfxc8 13.c3 b5³.
Everything is covered and we can calmly
wait for White to de ne his plan. Finally, 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.0-0 b6 is roughly
equal.
C. 5.e3 0-0 6.Be2 7...Ne4! 8.0-0
6.h3 waists precious time and should
encourage us to seek a tactical refutation in 8.Nxe4 dxe4 9.Ne5 cxd4 10.exd4 Qb6
the Grünfeld style: would cost White a pawn as 11.Rb1
Be6 12.b3? Nc6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.c3 c5
6...c5! is lost altogether.
8...Nc6
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+n+-+p+0 9-+n+-snp+0
9+-zpp+-+-0 9+-zppsN-+-0
9-+-zPnvL-+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+P0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzPP+LzPP+0 9PzPP+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Black’s chances are already preferable – I consider this set-up in Game 5 Wang-
9.Nb5 stumbles into 9...a6, 9.Na4 does not So, Edmonton 2014.
improve White’s position either – 9...cxd4
10.exd4 a6, preparing a minority attack. 6...c6 is more contestable here than in
the line 5.Qd2. White has not committed
After 6.Bd3, we can still play 6...Bg4 as his king to the queenside, so he could castle
in the main line, but I like the more re ned short. It is still a decent option.
move order 6...c5! 7.0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 Bg4.
7.h3
Finally, 6.h4 is not too consisting with
White’s previous move. We should attack 7.h4 is dubious – 7...Qb6 8.Rb1 Bg4
the centre with 6...c5 7.Qd2 Nc6 8.Ne5 9.Ne5 Bxe2 10.Qxe2 Nbd7.
Qa5 9.Be2 Nd7. 7.Ne5 could be repelled by 7...Nfd7!
8.Qd2 f6.
6...Bg4
I played this move twice and I still like it 7...Nbd7
as it offers Black an easy game with simple
decisions to make. At the same time, two Carlsen-Salem, blitz, Doha 2016, saw
alternatives also deserve serious attention: 7...Bf5, but I do not understand the
reason behind this development.
6...c5 7.Ne5 Carlsen’s sharp choice 8.Ne5 Nbd7 9.g4
Be6 10.f3 led to a messy position, but
Another possible move order is 7.0-0 the quiet 8.0-0 Re8 (White’s pawn
cxd4 8.exd4 Nc6 9.Ne5 Bf5=. formation is more exible after
7.dxc5 is best met by 7...Nbd7! – see 8...Nbd7 9.g4 Be6 10.Ng5 Ne8
Game 4 Stefanova-Dunnington, 11.Nb1 c5 12.c3.) 9.Bh2 promises
London 1997. some initiative on the kingside.
7...Nc6=. 8.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 9rsn-wq-trk+0
9zpp+nzppvlp0 9zppzp-zppvlp0
9-+p+-snp+0 9-+-+-snp+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+-zP-vLl+0
9+-sN-zPN+P0 9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzPP+LzPP+0 9PzPP+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
8...b5
7.Ne5
I chose this plan for consistency sake, White can gain the bishop pair with 7.h3
but any sensible move as 8...a5 or Bxf3 8.Bxf3, but after 8...c6 he remains
8...Re8 should not be any worse. Also without a clear plan since e4 would only
the somewhat paradoxical 8...b6 brings weaken the d4-pawn.
Black good results: 9.a4 a5 10.Ne5 See my Game 6 Miles-Kiril Georgiev,
Nxe5 (more cunning is 10...Bb7!? rst) Wijk aan Zee 1989.
11.Bxe5 Re8 12.Bf3 e6, and the game
Malaniuk-Aronian, Batumi 1999, ended 7...Bxe2 8.Qxe2 Nbd7 9.h4 c5 10.0-0-0
at this point with a draw. Rc8
9.a3 a5 10.Bd3 Bb7 Pinpointing the sore point of White’s set-
up. In many lines Black could sac the
Aimed against 11.e4, when Black would exchange on c3.
take over the initiative with 11...b4
12.axb4 axb4 13.e5 bxc3 14.exf6 Nxf6 11.f3
15.bxc3 c5. White could defend c3 by 11.Rh3, but it
costs a tempo in a race-type position:
Kantans opted twice for 10...Nb6, but I 11...a6 12.g4 b5 13.h5 b4 14.Na4 Qa5
think that the knight is better placed on 15.b3 c4 16.Nxd7 Nxd7 17.hxg6 fxg6
d7 from where it controls e5.
18.Rdh1 Rc6!. Black’s threats are more
11.Re1 Re8 12.Bh2 e6 13.Rb1 Qb6=. tangible.
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 12...cxd4 13.exd4 Rxc3 14.bxc3 Na4
9-+rwq-trk+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zp-+-+pvlp0 9-+-wq-trk+0
9-+-+psnp+0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9+-+pvL-+P0 9-+-+-snp+0
9-zp-zP-+P+0 9+-+psN-+-0
9+-+-+Q+-0 9n+-zP-vLPzP0
9PzPP+NzP-+0 9+-zP-+P+-0
9+-mKR+-+R0 9P+P+Q+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
16...h6. Black’s king is absolutely safe
unlike its white counterpart. Black has full positional compensation
for the exchange – 15.Qe3 (or 15.Rd3 h5;
e text enables Qe2-h2 and takes 15.Bd2 Qb6) 15...h5°.
control of e4. e idea of ...a6, ...b5 is
already slow.
11...Nb6 12.g4
12.h5 cxd4 13.exd4 Nxh5 14.Rxh5 is
overly optimistic – 14...gxh5 15.Rh1
Qe8μ.
Chapter 2. e Barry Attack 3.Bf4 g6
4.Nc3
Annotated Games
position is close to equal. e stem game
3. Cooper – Batchelor for this line is Kogan-Krasenkow, Sanxenxo
2003: 11.Be2 b6
ICCF email 2011
XIIIIIIIIY
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 9r+l+-trk+0
5.Qd2 Ne4 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Ne5
XIIIIIIIIY 9zp-+qzppvlp0
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 9-zpp+-+p+0
9zppzp-zppvlp0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+p+0 9-+-zPpvL-+0
9+-+-sN-+-0 9+-wQ-zP-+-0
9-+-zPpvL-+0 9PzPP+LzPPzP0
9+-+-+-+-0 9tR-+-mK-+R0
9PzPPwQPzPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+-mKL+R0 12.Qb3!
xiiiiiiiiy
12.0-0-0 c5 13.Be5 Bxe5 14.dxe5 is
well met by the same manoeuvre
7...Nd7 (7...c5!?) 8.Nxd7 Qxd7 9.e3
If White followed the dream of mating 14...Qf5, or 14...Qe6 15.Bc4 Qf5
the opponent with the overt 9.0-0-0 0-0 (proposed by Dembo).
10.Bh6?!, he would soon notice that Black’s 14...Qc6 15.h4 Be6 16.h5 Rad8 is also
attack was more dangerous – 10...Bxh6! solid. e only danger for Black would
11.Qxh6 Qd5 12.h4 (12.a3 c5–+) stem from ungrounded attempts to
12...Qxa2 13.h5 e3 14.fxe3 Qa1+ 15.Kd2 attack the white king, for instance:
Qa5+ 16.c3 g5μ. 16...Qa4?! 17.a3 g5 18.h6 Rac8 19.Qe1
b5 20.f4 Kh8 21.Qg3 Rg8 22.f5 c4
9...0-0 10.Qb4 23.c3 Bxf5 24.Rhf1 Be6 25.Rxf7 b4
is is Hebden’s attempt to improve on 26.axb4 a5 27.Rg7!‚.
the older 10.Qc3 c6. In both cases the
12...Qf5 13.c3. Here, instead of 13...c5,
XIIIIIIIIY
I like rst 13...Be6 while we are still 9-+r+-vlk+0
controlling the d5-square. Later we could 9+lzp-+p+-0
push ...c5. 9-zp-+p+pzp0
10...b6 11.0-0-0
9tr-+-+-+-0
Hebden has played twice 11.Rd1. en
9p+-zPpvLPzP0
Black should be careful to avoid a blockade 9zP-zP-zP-+-0
of the queenside since the e4-pawn would 9-zP-+LzP-+0
allow White to obtain an initiative with the 9+-+R+RmK-0
break f2-f3. Hebden-Holmes, rapid xiiiiiiiiy
Daventry 2013, went 11...Bb7 12.Bb5 c6
13.Be2 Rac8 14.0-0 Rfd8 15.a4 e6 16.c3 is diagram favourably defers from the
Qd5 17.a5 Bf8 18.Qa4 b5 19.Qa1 a6 previous one – the b7-bishop controls f3,
20.b4 Qf5. Black’s rooks are active. White is unable to
make progress as the only sensible plan
XIIIIIIIIY 20.c4 is easily parried with 20...Kg7
9-+rtr-vlk+0 21.Rd2 Bd6. Instead, the game saw
9+l+-+p+p0 20.Kg2 Kg7 21.Rh1 (21.c4 Bd6) 21...Bd6
9p+p+p+p+0 22.g5 hxg5 23.hxg5 Rf5 24.Rh4 ½-½.
9zPp+-+q+-0
9-zP-zPpvL-+0 11...Rd8 12.h4 c5
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-zP-zP-+-0 9r+ltr-+k+0
9-+-+LzPPzP0 9zp-+qzppvlp0
9wQ-+R+RmK-0 9-zp-+-+p+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-zp-+-+-0
Black is deprived of counterplay and his 9-wQ-zPpvL-zP0
b7-bishop is particularly bad. 9+-+-zP-+-0
9PzPP+-zPP+0
e correct approach was demonstrated 9+-mKR+L+R0
in the game Bender-Schludecker, BdF-
Schachserver 2014: 11...a5! 12.Qb5 a4
xiiiiiiiiy
13.a3 Qxb5 14.Bxb5 Bb7 15.c3 Ra5
16.Be2 Rc8 17.h4 e6 18.g4 h6 19.0-0 Bf8 13.Qb5
White should seek a queen trade since
13.Qb3?! simply loses a pawn after
13...cxd4 14.exd4 Bxd4 15.Bc4 Qf5
16.Bc7 Rd7 17.h5 gxh5³.
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 9r+lwqr+k+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9zp-+n+pvl-0
9-+n+-snp+0 9-+p+-+p+0
9+-zppsN-+-0 9+-+pzp-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9NzP-zP-+-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0 9+-zP-vL-+-0
9PzPP+LzPPzP0 9P+-wQLzPP+0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
8.0-0 is position occurred in Zichichi-
B.Lalic, Bratto 2001. White’s attack is a
8.dxc5 Qa5= hardly deserves an
total failure as he is undeveloped and does
attention.
not control the centre. Black could start a
8.h4 is more consistent. A good reply is decisive counter-offense with 17...a5
8...cxd4 9.exd4 Qb6 18.Bh6? Bf6–+.
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 9-+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+q+-snp+0 9-+r+-snp+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-+p+l+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0 9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzPP+LzPPzP0 9PzPP+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
11.Bb5 12.Be5?!
It was more accurate to cover the e4-
11.Re1 a6 12.a4 Bf5 13.a5 Rad8= is
similar. square rst – 12.Bf3 Qd7 13.Be5 Rfc8
14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nxd5 Bxc2=,
11...Qb6 12.a4 a6 13.a5 Qd8 14.Be2 Chatalbashev-S.Nikolov, Pleven 2005.
Bd7=. Hebden-Tukmakov, Neuchatel
2003, went further 15.Qd2 Rc8 16.Rfe1 e6 12...Ne4 13.Nxe4 Bxe5! 14.dxe5 dxe4³
17.Bh6 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 Ne8 19.Bd3 Qf6 15.c3?!
20.Qe3 Nd6 21.Na4 Bxa4 22.Rxa4, when 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Rad1 Rxd1 17.Bxd1
instead of 22...Rc6 23.c3 Rfc8 24.Rb4 h5³ is pleasant for Black as his rook is very
R8c7 25.Qg3 Kg7 26.h3 Qd8 27.h4², active. Still it was more stubborn.
Tukmakov should have xed a draw with
22...Nc4 23.Bxc4 Rxc4 24.Rxc4 dxc4 15...Rc5 16.Qxd8 Rxd8 17.Rad1 Rxd1
25.Qe5 Qxe5 26.Rxe5 Rd8 27.c3 Rd5=. 18.Bxd1 Rxe5 19.f4 Rb5 20.Bb3 a5
XIIIIIIIIY
10.Re1 Rc8 11.Nxc6
9-+-+-+k+0
More tension preserved 11.Bf3 Re8, 9+p+-zpp+p0
Torre-Ganguly, Pattaya 2015. 11...h6 is 9-+-+-+p+0
another useful move. 9zpr+-+l+-0
11...Rxc6
9-+-+pzP-+0
9+LzP-+-+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9+-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
21.Re2 Rb6 22.Kf2 Be6 23.Bxe6 Rxe6
24.Ke3 f5 25.Kd4 Kf7 26.Kc5 Kf6
27.Kb5 Ra6 28.a4 e5 29.fxe5+ Kxe5
XIIIIIIIIY
30.b4 axb4 31.cxb4 f4 32.a5 e3 33.Kc4 Correct would have been 13.Be3 Nf6
Ke4 34.Ra2 Rc6+ 35.Kb3 Kd3 36.b5 14.Bf3 Nd5 15.Bxd5! (15.Rb1 Nxe3
Rc8 0-1 16.fxe3 c5³) 15...cxd5 16.Rb1, although
the plan with ...b5 would still give me some
6. Miles – Kiril Georgiev initiative.
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY Instead we should strike in the centre with
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 ...c5. White has tried from here:
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+p+-+p+0 7.e3 c5 8.dxc5 (for 8.f3 – see 7.f3)
8...Qa5 9.Ne4 Qxd2+ 10.Nxd2 Bf5
9+-+p+-+n0 11.Bd3 Nbd7 12.Nb3 Rfc8 13.Bxf5 gxf5
9-+-zP-vL-+0 14.Nd4 e6=, Kovalev-Karjakin, rapid,
9+-sN-zP-+-0 Berlin 2015. e game went 15.b4?! which
9PzPP+-zPP+0 gave Black the initiative after 15...a5.
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 15...b6 was even stronger.
xiiiiiiiiy 7.f3 c5 8.e3 Qa5 9.g4
7.Rxh5 gxh5 8.Qxh5 Nd7 9.Qh2
Giving up the centre with 9.dxc5 should
occurred in Wei Yi-Tomashevsky, blitz,
nor bring White success – 9...Nc6 10.g4
Doha 2016. Simplest is 9...Nf8 to cover the
g- le from g6. However, if you are afraid of Qxc5 11.0-0-0 Rd8 12.Nge2 e5 13.g5
it, you could slightly alter the move order Nh5 14.Ng3 d4 15.Nxh5+ gxh5
and answer 4.e3 by 4...c6 5.h4 Qb6, 16.Ne4 Qb6 and White’s attack has
harassing White’s queenside. After 6.a3 been stalled.
Bg7, 7.h5 is no longer a threat, as the b2- 9...cxd4 10.exd4 Nc6
pawn would be hanging. XIIIIIIIIY
4...Bg7 9r+l+-tr-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9zpp+-zppmkp0
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 9-+n+-snp+0
9zppzp-zppvlp0 9wq-+p+-+-0
9-+-+-snp+0 9-+-zP-+P+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-sN-+P+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9PzPPwQ-+-zP0
9+-sN-+-+-0 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
9PzPPwQPzPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+-mKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy Black is better developed and controls
the centre. erefore, he should not be
5.0-0-0 afraid of the enemy attack. He is going to
e most principled line is 5.Bh6 0-0 meet 11.h4 by 11...h5 12.0-0-0 Rh8
6.Bxg7 Kxg7. e chips are down, the race 13.Be2 Rb8 14.Kb1 Be6 15.gxh5 Nxh5
is about to start. Typical plans with ...c6, 16.Bd3 b5 17.Nh3 Bxh3 18.Rxh3 e6.
...b5 are ineffective as White has not
committed his king to the queenside yet.
11.g5 does not make sense either – 9...b5?!. However, this pawn is important
11...Ne8 12.h4 Nd6 13.h5 Bf5 14.hxg6 for the attack, so it was better to play rst:
hxg6 15.a3 Rh8μ.
9...c4! 10.g4 Rd8 11.g5 Nh5 12.e4 and
7.0-0-0 c5! 8.e3 now 12...b5 is already strong – 13.a3 e6
14.Bh3 Nc6.
8.dxc5 Qa5 transposes to the main
game. Finally, 7.Nf3 blunts White’s attack and
gives Black a wide choice. He could play in
8...Qa5!
the centre with 7...Qd6 8.e3 Nbd7,
Black should be careful with his hanging intending ...Ne4, or with 7...c6 8.e3 Nbd7
centre. 8...Nc6 left Black a clear pawn 9.h3 Qc7, Kotainy-Timman, Germany
down – 9.dxc5 Be6 10.Bb5 Ne5 2017.
11.Qd4 Qc7 12.Nge2 Rac8 13.Nf4±,
5...0-0
Van Foreest-Grandelius, Wijk aan Zee
After White’s castling, the plan with
2017.
5...c6! 6.f3 b5 becomes topical, too:
9.f3
7.e4
9.dxc5 Rd8 10.h4 h5 effectively cuts
across White’s main plan – 11.Nf3 Alternatively:
Qxc5 12.e4 Nc6 13.exd5 Be6, regaining 7.h4 h5 8.e4 b4;
the pawn.
7.e3 Nbd7 8.g4 Nb6 9.h4
Here in Delchev-Zakhartsov, Paleochora XIIIIIIIIY
2015, Black correctly judged that he should 9r+lwqk+-tr0
push ...b5, but he over-optimistically
decided not to prepare it at all and
9zp-+-zppvlp0
unnecessarily sacri ced a pawn with: 9-snp+-snp+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+p+p+-+-0
9rsnl+-tr-+0 9-+-zP-vLPzP0
9zpp+-zppmkp0 9+-sN-zPP+-0
9-+-+-snp+0 9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9wq-zpp+-+-0 9+-mKR+LsNR0
9-+-zP-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-zPP+-0
9...h5 10.g5 Nfd7 11.e4 b4 12.Nce2 a5
9PzPPwQ-+PzP0 13.b3 0-0 14.e5 c5μ;
9+-mKR+LsNR0
7.Kb1 Nbd7 8.e3 Nb6 (8...0-0!? 9.g4
xiiiiiiiiy Re8) 9.Bd3 a5 10.e4, Alekseev-
Grigoriants, Moscow 2017, 10...b4
XIIIIIIIIY
11.Nce2 Nc4 12.Qe1 Qb6ƒ. 9rsnl+-tr-+0
7...b4 8.Na4 dxe4 9.fxe4 Qa5 10.Nc5
9zpp+-zppmkp0
Nbd7 11.Nxd7 Bxd7 12.Bc4 Nxe4
9-+-+-snp+0
13.Qe1 Nf6 14.Nf3 0-0³. 9wq-zPp+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
6.Bh6 9+-sN-+-+-0
Another plausible option is 6.f3 c5
7.dxc5
9PzPPwQPzPPzP0
9+-mKR+LsNR0
7.e3 Nc6 8.Kb1 is solid. (Black’s attack xiiiiiiiiy
is faster after 8.g4 Qa5 9.Kb1 c4 10.h4
b5 11.g5 b4³.) Black should probably 9.h4
try the pawn sac 8...c4 9.e4 e point is that 9.Nxd5 Qxa2 10.Qc3
XIIIIIIIIY is not any better for White. Black could
9r+lwq-trk+0 answer 10...Rd8 11.e4 Be6„. Even
9zpp+-zppvlp0 10...Qa1+ 11.Kd2 Qa4 was playable,
9-+n+-snp+0 Cabrera-Dvirnyy, Catalunya 2014.
9+-+p+-+-0 9...h5
9-+pzPPvL-+0 is is an almost automatic reaction, but
9+-sN-+P+-0 Black could also take over the initiative
9PzPPwQ-+PzP0 with 9...d4!? 10.Qxd4 Nc6, followed by
...Bf5. It is not easy to weigh up the
9+K+R+LsNR0 ensuing complications, though.
xiiiiiiiiy
A clever alternative was also 9...Nc6!?,
9...b5!? 10.Nxb5 dxe4 11.Bxc4 Qb6 hoping for 10.h5? d4 11.hxg6 h5! 12.Nb1
12.Nc3 Rd8 13.Nge2 Na5 14.Bb3 Qxc5 with a devastating attack. Instead,
Nxb3 15.axb3 exf3 16.gxf3 Nd5 with 10.e3 h5 would transpose to the game.
full compensation. e f3-pawn is very
weak, Black’s bishop pair and heavy 10.e3 Qxc5 11.Nh3
pieces will target the enemy king.
7...Nbd7 8.e3 (8.Nxd5? Nxd5 9.Qxd5
Qa5) 8...Nxc5 9.Be5 Qb6 10.Qd4=.
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 14.Kb1 Rfd8 15.Be2 Rac8 16.Rg3 Ne4
9rsnl+-tr-+0 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Qc1 Rxd1 19.Qxd1
9zpp+-zppmk-0 Nb4
9-+-+-snp+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-wqp+-+p0 9-+r+-+-+0
9-+-+-+-zP0 9zpp+-+pmk-0
9+-sN-zP-+N0 9-+-+p+p+0
9PzPPwQ-zPP+0 9+-wq-+-+p0
9+-mKR+L+R0 9-sn-+pzP-zP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-zP-tR-0
9PzPP+L+P+0
11...Bxh3! 9+K+Q+-+-0
A good strategic decision. In positions xiiiiiiiiy
with opposite attacks, knights are often
stronger than bishops. 20.a3 (20.c3 Nd3 21.Bxd3 Rd8)
20...Nxc2 21.Qd2 Qd5 22.Qxd5 exd5
12.Rxh3 Nc6 13.f4 e6 23.Bd1 Ne1 24.Bb3 Rc5 25.f5 Nd3
Black has a huge positional edge. All his 26.Rg5 d4 27.fxg6 Rxg5 28.hxg5 dxe3 0-
pieces are active. 1
Chapter 3. 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.Nf3 g6
4.c4
Main Ideas
XIIIIIIIIY
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 g6 4.c4 Bg7 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
5.Nc3 9zppzp-zppvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 9-+-+-snp+0
9zppzp-zppvlp0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-+-snp+0 9-+PzP-vL-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9-+PzP-vL-+0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-sN-+N+-0 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+QmKL+R0 Now 5...c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Rc1 dxc4
xiiiiiiiiy 8.Bxc4 would throw us out of our
repertoire after 8...0-0 9.Nge2 or 9.Nf3.
5...0-0 erefore, we go 5...0-0, when 6.Nf3
e move order 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 reaches line B. However, White has two
g6 rules out the line 3.Nf3 g6 4.c4 Bg7 major alternatives with independent
5.Nc3 0-0 6.Rc1, but enables 4.c4 Bg7 signi cance: 6.Rc1 and 6.cxd5. I consider
5.Nc3, where instead of Nf3, White has them in Game 11 Wojtaszek-
played e3. Nepomniachtchi, Wijk aan Zee 2017. ey
do not pose any theoretical problem for us,
but we have to include one more line in our
home preparation. at’s why I consider
the move order with 1...Nf6 preferable,
provided that you are not afraid of 2.c4, to
be sure.
XIIIIIIIIY
is position is completely unexplored.
XIIIIIIIIY
Black’s play is rather easy. He is planning 9-+r+-trk+0
...Ne7, ...Ng7-f5, ...Bh6, ...c6, and White’s 9zpp+lzppvlp0
centre will be paralysed. 9-wq-+-+p+0
B. 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Ne4!?
9+-snP+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+P+P+-+0
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9+-+-+N+-0
9zpp+-zppvlp0 9P+QvL-zPPzP0
9-+-+-+p+0 9+-tR-mKL+R0
9+-zPp+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+P+nvL-+0
e e4-pawn falls after ...Ba4 and White
9+-sN-zPN+-0 should be struggling for the draw, with his
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 compromised pawn structure.
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy Still, that may be the lesser evil, as the
more popular 10.Nd4 Nxc3 11.bxc3
We are going for a kill! White is still to Qxa2³ is not fun either. See Game 10
nd an adequate reaction to this sharp Simantsev-Shishkin, Police 2013.
move.
eoretical status
8.Rc1 Nd7!? 9.cxd5 Qa5 e Bf4 System has seen its moment of
XIIIIIIIIY fame in the 80-ies when Karpov employed
9r+l+-trk+0 it against Kasparov, but it is currently
9zpp+nzppvlp0 struggling. In most lines Black has found
9-+-+-+p+0 clear equalizers. Even more, I show that
9wq-zPP+-+-0 Black has plenty of ways to aspire to the
initiative at an early stage of the opening.
9-+-+nvL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0 My main lines are practically uncovered
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 by the best latest books on the Grünfeld.
9+-tRQmKL+R0 e surprise effect should be on your side.
xiiiiiiiiy
It is a bit awkward to recommend here to
White 10.Qc2 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Nxc5 12.e4
Bd7 13.Bd2 Rac8! 14.c4 Qb6.
XIIIIIIIIY
Chapter 3. 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.Nf3 g6
4.c4
Step by Step
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 g6 4.c4 Bg7 7...c5 8.Bxg7 Kxg7 9.e3 Nc6 10.Rc1
5.Nc3 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Bd7
XIIIIIIIIY 13.Be2 e5 was also better for Black in
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 Akobian-Khachiyan, chess.com 2017
9zppzp-zppvlp0 7...Qxd5 8.Bxc7 has nearly disappeared
9-+-+-snp+0 from practice owing to the following line:
9+-+p+-+-0 8...Nc6! 9.e3 Bf5 10.Be2 Rac8 11.Bg3
9-+PzP-vL-+0 Qa5+ 12.Qd2 Nb4 13.0-0 Rc2 14.Qe1
Rxb2 15.Ne5 Bxe5 16.Bxe5, Anikaev-
9+-sN-+N+-0
Giorgadze, Soviet Union 1973, 16...Qa3!³
9PzP-+PzPPzP0 (Avrukh).
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy A. 6.Rc1 dxc4
6...c5 7.dxc5 Be6 8.Nd4 Nc6 9.Nxe6
5...0-0 fxe6 10.e3 d4!? is a decent option. 6...Be6
5...c5 is a major option against an early 7.e3 dxc4 transposes to A1.
e3, but it is dubious here. White can XIIIIIIIIY
answer 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qxd5 9rsnlwq-trk+0
Bxc3+ 9.Bd2 Be6 10.Qxb7 Bxd2+
9zppzp-zppvlp0
11.Nxd2 0-0 12.b4! Qa4 13.e3².
9-+-+-snp+0
A. 6.Rc1; B. 6.e3 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+pzP-vL-+0
6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nxd5
9+-sN-+N+-0
Akobian keeps defending 7.Be5, but the 9PzP-+PzPPzP0
natural 7...Bxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxc3 9.bxc3 9+-tRQmKL+R0
Nd7 is ne for Black, especially after xiiiiiiiiy
10.Nxd7 Bxd7 11.e4 e5!.
A1. 7.e3; A2. 7.e4
A1. 7.e3 Nbd7!? 11.g4 Nb6 12.Bb3 Bxg4 13.h3 Bxf3
e solid equalizer is 7...Be6 8.Ng5 Bd5 14.Qxf3 Nf6 15.Bg3 is interesting.
9.e4 h6 – see Game 9 Del Rio de Angelis- XIIIIIIIIY
Espinosa,Linares 2016.
9r+-wq-trk+0
e text is an enterprising alternative, 9zppzp-zppvl-0
meant for players willing to take some risks. 9-sn-+-sn-zp0
In practice it brings nice dividends, 9+-+-+-zp-0
probably because White is less prepared to
meet it.
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+LsN-zPQvLP0
8.Bxc4 Nh5 9PzP-+-zP-+0
8...c5?! 9.0-0 cxd4 10.Nb5 Ne8 9+-tR-mK-+R0
(10...dxe3 11.Ng5±) 11.Nc7 Nxc7 xiiiiiiiiy
12.Bxc7 Qe8 13.Nxd4 Nb6 14.Bxb6 axb6
15.Qb3 Bxd4 16.exd4 Qd8 17.Qb4 b5 White’s bishop pair could become
18.Bb3 e6² is an inferior alternative. dangerous, so Black should seek
counterplay at all cost: 15...c5! 16.dxc5
9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 Nbd7 17.Na4 Qa5+ 18.Kf1 b6 19.cxb6
XIIIIIIIIY
axb6 20.Kg2 Rac8, planning ...h5-h4,
9r+lwq-trk+0 ...g4.
9zppzpnzppvl-0
9-+-+-+-zp0 11...Nxg3 12.hxg3 c5 13.dxc5
9+-+-+-zpn0 In my opinion, 13.Qd3! e6 14.Rd1,
which preserves the tension in the centre, is
9-+LzP-+-vL0 the most challenging option.
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-tRQmK-+R0 9r+lwq-trk+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zpp+n+pvl-0
9-+-+p+-zp0
11.Bg3 9+-zp-+-zp-0
11.Nd2 e5 12.Qxh5 exd4 13.exd4 gxh4 9-+LzP-+-+0
14.0-0 Nb6 15.Bb3 Qxd4 16.Nde4 h3, 9+-sNQzPNzP-0
intending ...Qe5, was comfortable for Black 9PzP-+-zPP+0
in L’Ami-Cheparinov, Tromsoe 2014. is 9+-+RmK-+R0
game is important for the theory, as L’Ami
was Cheparinov’s second and both
xiiiiiiiiy
opponents were undoubtedly well prepared
for each other. Here 14...g4 15.Nh4 cxd4 (15...b6
16.Qe4!) 16.exd4 Qg5 17.0-0 Rd8 is
too dangerous as White gets a strong at a4. e point is that 20.Ng4? is not a
initiative after 18.f4 gxf3 19.Qxf3 Nf6 threat owing to 20...f5! and Black’s counter-
20.Bb3!. White’s main threats are based attack is crushing.
on the break d4-d5 and the attack on
h7. erefore, we should make the A2. 7.e4 Bg4 8.Bxc4
prophylactic move: Alternatively:
14...Re8!, when 15.d5 (14.0-0 Qa5 8.e5? Nh5 9.Be3 c5 10.dxc5 Qxd1+
15.Ne4 cxd4 16.exd4 Rd8∞) 15...exd5 11.Rxd1 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Bxe5 13.Bxc4
16.Bxd5 Qe7 17.Nb5 Nf6 18.Nd6 Rf8 Nc6³, Borges-Llobel Cortell, Albacete
19.Bc4 Be6 20.Nf5 Bxf5 Qe4! is roughly 2002.
equal.
8.Be3 is more consistent, but it gives us a
13...Nxc5 14.Qc2 e6 wide choice between 8...Nh5, 8...c5 9.dxc5
XIIIIIIIIY
Qa5 10.Qc2 Be6 and even 8...b5 9.e5 Nd5
9r+lwq-trk+0 10.Nxb5 c5 11.Bxc4 Nxe3 12.fxe3 a6
9zpp+-+pvl-0 13.Nc3 Nc6 14.dxc5 Qa5 15.Qa4 Qxc5
9-+-+p+-zp0 16.Ne2 Qa5+ 17.Qxa5 Nxa5 18.Bd5
9+-sn-+-zp-0 Rab8=.
9-+L+-+-+0
9+-sN-zPNzP-0 8...Nh5
is move order is not obligatory.
9PzPQ+-zPP+0
9+-tR-mK-+R0 8...Bxf3 transposes after 9.gxf3. In
xiiiiiiiiy practice White has tried to exploit the move
order by 9.Qxf3 Nh5 10.d5 Nxf4 11.Qxf4,
15.Nh2 but the arising position is rich and
Naturally, 15.0-0 cannot be scary. promising for Black.
Timofeev-Artemiev, Khanty-Mansiysk XIIIIIIIIY
2015, saw 15...Qb6 16.a3, when 16...Bd7= 9rsn-wq-trk+0
would have been more reasonable than 9zppzp-zppvlp0
16...a5. More natural would be to complete
development with 15...Bd7 and only after
9-+-+-+p+0
16.Rfd1 – 16...Qb6=. 9+-+P+-+-0
9-+L+PwQ-+0
15...b5! 16.Bxb5 Rb8 9+-sN-+-+-0
Black has full compensation for the
pawn. Matsenko-Ipatov, Izmir 2016, went
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
17.Be2 Ba6 18.Bxa6 Nxa6 19.0-0 Nb4°. 9+-tR-mK-+R0
e computer nds an amazing resource: xiiiiiiiiy
17...Bxc3!! 18.bxc3 Bb7 19.f3 Bc6! aiming
e game Novikov-C.Horvath, Cairo 11.f4 Qh4
1997, went 11...Qd6 12.Qe3 c6 13.0-0 Mounting the tension.
cxd5 14.exd5 Nd7. Even better is to leave
the queen on d8: 11...c6 12.0-0 cxd5, 11...Nc6!? is of equal worth. It forces
intending to meet 13.exd5 by 13...Nd7 and White to open the centre since after 12.e5?!
13.Bxd5 by 13...Qb6. Bh6 White cannot play 13.Qf3 as the d4-
pawn will hang. Remains:
9.Be3
9.Bg5?! just drops a pawn after 9...Bxf3 a) L.Portish answered 12.d5 exd5
10.Qxf3 Qxd4, since 11.Nd5 e6 12.Nxc7 13.Nxd5, when best is 13...Qh4! 14.Be2
Qe5 13.Nxa8 Qxg5 14.0-0 Nc6 promises Nf6 15.e5
Black a devastating attack, for instance: XIIIIIIIIY
15.Nc7 Be5 16.Nb5 a6 17.Nc3 Bf4 9r+-+-trk+0
18.Rc2 Ne5 19.Qe2 Bxh2+ 20.Kxh2 Nf4. 9zppzp-+pvlp0
9...Bxf3 10.gxf3 9-+n+-snp+0
After 10.Qxf3 Bxd4 11.0-0, we should 9+-+NzP-+-0
refrain from taking on e3. Instead, 11...e6 9-+-+-zP-wq0
or 11...c5 are ne. 9+-+-vL-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9PzP-+LzP-zP0
9rsn-wq-trk+0 9+-tRQmK-+R0
9zppzp-zppvlp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-+-+p+0
15...Nxd5
9+-+-+-+n0
9-+LzPP+-+0 15...Nd7!? 16.Qd3 Nb6 is more
9+-sN-vLP+-0 ambitious.
9PzP-+-zP-zP0 16.Qxd5 Rad8 17.Qg2 f6. Black has
9+-tRQmK-+R0 good counterplay, but White could draw
xiiiiiiiiy with 18.e6 (18.f5∞) 18...f5 19.0-0 Rfe8
20.Bb5 Bxb2 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Rxc6 Bd4
10...e6!? 23.Bxd4 Rxd4 24.Rxc7 Qxf4 25.Qb7
e established equalizer is 10...e5 Qg4+=.
11.dxe5 Bxe5 12.Qxd8 Rxd8=, see Game 8
Zubov-Timofeev, Moscow 2009. b) 12.Be2 Bxd4 13.Bxh5
13.Ne2 most likely will transpose after b) 15.Bb3 Rac8 16.f5 exf5 17.Rg1 Ng7
13...Rfd8! 14.e5. 18.Rxc6 bxc6 19.Bg5=.
After 14.Rd1, Black could repeat moves c) 15.0-0 Ne7 16.Ng3 Ng7 17.Qxb7 c6
with 14...Na5 15.Bd3 Nc6 16.Bc4, XIIIIIIIIY
while 16.Bc2 Nb4 17.Bb3 c5 would be 9r+-tr-vlk+0
ne for him. More interesting is to play
on with 14...Rac8 15.e5 Nb4 16.0-0
9zpQ+-snpsnp0
Bh6. 9-+p+p+p+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-zP-+-0
9r+-+-trk+0 9-+LzP-zP-wq0
9zppzp-+pvlp0 9+-+-vL-sN-0
9-+n+p+p+0 9PzP-+-zP-zP0
9+-+-+-+n0 9+-tR-+RmK-0
9-+LzPPzP-wq0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-vLQ+-0 White’s queen is cut off from the
9PzP-+NzP-zP0 kingside. at requires accurate defence,
9+-tR-mK-+R0 e.g. 18.Rc3 Rac8 19.Kh1 Ngf5 20.Bc1
xiiiiiiiiy Bh6ƒ.
14.Ne2 Bf8
is position is double-edged, but it is
more demanding strategically from White
since his pawn structure is compromised.
Possible continuations are:
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY extensively 15.Bg5 and 15.Bh2 with long
9rsnlwq-trk+0 forced variations in all cases. ey are
9zpp+-zppvlp0 covered in Chess Stars book e Safest
9-+-+-snp+0 Grünfeld. Black may be holding his own,
9+-zPp+-+-0 but I do not see any reason to recommend
such lines when we have such a noteworthy
9-+P+-vL-+0 alternative as 7...Ne4.
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 8.Rc1
9tR-+QmKL+R0 8.Nxe4? dxe4 9.Qxd8 Rxd8 10.Nd4 e5
xiiiiiiiiy 11.Bg5 f6 12.Nb5 fxg5 13.Nc7 Na6 is
plain bad for White.
7...Ne4!?
8.Be5 Bxe5 9.Nxe5 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Qa5
is should be a little surprise for your
11.Rc1 Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.cxd5 cxd5
opponents as 7...Qa5 is by far the most
14.Be2 was drawn in L.Portisch-Ruck,
fashionable move. It has two serious
Hungary 2003, but nothing hampers Black
drawbacks: the arising positions may be
to play on from the nal position.
drawish in view of the symmetrical pawn
structure; you should remember a lot of 8...Nd7!?
theory. e main line goes: 8...Nxc3 9.bxc3 Qa5 is slightly
premature, as the pawn on c3 enables the
8.Rc1 dxc4 (8...Rd8 – Carlsen) 9.Bxc4
line 10.cxd5 Nd7 11.Qb3 Nxc5 12.Qb4.
Qxc5 10.Bb3 Nc6 11.0-0 Qa5 12.h3 Bf5
13.Qe2 Ne4 14.Nd5 e5 Black may try 9...dxc4 10.Qxd8 Rxd8
XIIIIIIIIY 11.Bxc4 Nd7 12.Rd1 Rf8 13.Bg5 Bxc3+
9r+-+-trk+0 14.Ke2 Bf6 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Ne5 Bf5
9zpp+-+pvlp0 17.c6, where White preserves some pressure
and plays with a draw in the pocket.
9-+n+-+p+0
9wq-+Nzpl+-0 9.cxd5 Qa5 10.Nd4
9-+-+nvL-+0 10.Bc4?! Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bxc3+ 12.Ke2
9+L+-zPN+P0 Nxc5 is best punished by 12...b5!.
9PzP-+QzPP+0 10.Qc2 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Nxc5 12.e4 Bd7
9+-tR-+RmK-0 13.Bd2 Rac8! 14.c4 occurred in Prohaszka-
xiiiiiiiiy Jansa, Germany 2016, when 14...Qb6!
is position became extremely popular instead of 14...Qa6 would have been
disturbing for White. e point is that the
after Karpov’s exchange sacri ce 15.Rxc6!?
in his world title match against Kasparov in queen controls b1 so ...Ba4 threatens to
1986. Later White has also tested win the e4-pawn. e only move would be
15.Be3 (15.Be2 Ba4; 15.Rb1 Qa6)
15...Bb2 16.Rb1 Bc3+ 17.Bd2 Bxd2+
XIIIIIIIIY
18.Nxd2 Qa5 19.Be2 Ba4 20.Qb2 Nxe4 9r+-+-trk+0
21.Qb4 Qxb4 22.Rxb4 Nc5 23.f3! with 9zpp+-+-+p0
even chances. 9q+-+pvlp+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-+-0
9r+l+-trk+0 9-+-+-vL-+0
9zpp+nzppvlp0 9+Q+-zP-+-0
9-+-+-+p+0 9P+-+-zPPzP0
9wq-zPP+-+-0 9+-tR-+-mKR0
9-+-sNnvL-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 19.h3 Rad8 20.Kh2 Rd2 21.Rc2 Rxc2
22.Qxc2 Qc6 23.Qxc6 bxc6 24.Rc1
9+-tRQmKL+R0 Rc8 25.Bd6 Kf7 26.Kg3 Be7 27.Bc5
xiiiiiiiiy Bxc5 28.Rxc5 Ke7 29.Ra5 c5! 30.Rxa7+
Kd6 31.Kf3 c4 32.Ke2 Rb8 33.Kd2
10...Nxc3 Rb2+ 34.Kc3 Rxf2 35.g4 h5 36.gxh5
10...Ndxc5 is less popular and scores gxh5 37.Kxc4 ½-½ Gustafsson-Safarli,
horribly, but in fact it also offers Black a Porto Carras 2011.
nice game:
13.0-0
11.Bc4 XIIIIIIIIY
11.Qc2 Rd8 (11...Nxc3!? 12.Qxc3
9r+-+-trk+0
Qxc3+ 13.bxc3 Rd8 14.Bc4 Bd7=) 9zpp+lzppvlp0
12.Bc7 Qxc7 13.Nxe4 Qa5+ 14.Qc3 9-+-+-+p+0
Qxc3+ 15.Nxc3 Nd7 16.Bc4 Bxd4 9wq-snP+-+-0
17.exd4 Nf6 is enough for a draw, for 9-+LsN-vL-+0
instance: 18.0-0 a6 19.a4 b6 20.Rfe1 9+-zP-zP-+-0
Kf8 21.Re5 Bb7 22.Rce1 Rd7 23.f3 9P+-+-zPPzP0
Rad8=.
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
11...Nxc3 12.bxc3 Bd7 xiiiiiiiiy
12...e5 is brutal, but effective play for a is typical position has been tested in a
draw: 13.dxe6 Bxe6 14.Bxe6 Nxe6 number of games with poor results for
15.Nxe6 Bxc3+ 16.Kf1 fxe6 17.Qb3 White. He cannot retain the extra pawn:
Qa6+ 18.Kg1 Bf6
13...Na4 14.Qb3 Nb6 15.Bb5 Bxd4
16.Bxd7 Bg7 17.Bb5 a6 18.Be2 Nxd5
XIIIIIIIIY
19.c4 Nxf4 20.exf4 b6³, Sanikidze-Gupta, Practice has proved that the a-pawn is
Istanbul 2012. more dangerous than White’s centre. See
Game 10 Simantsev-Shishkin, Police 2013.
11.bxc3 Qxa2³
Chapter 3. 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.Nf3 g6
4.c4
Annotated Games
13.Ne2 commonly transposes, but it is
8. Zubov – Timofeev good for White to keep the more active
option of Nd5.
Moscow 31.01.2009
13...Nc6 14.0-0 Bxb2 15.Rb1 Ne5
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 returns to the main game.
5.Bf4 0-0 6.Rc1 dxc4 7.e4 Bg4 8.Bxc4
Nh5 9.Be3 Bxf3 10.gxf3 14...Nd4!? 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 16.b4 Be5
XIIIIIIIIY 17.b5 Nf4 18.Rfd1 b6= occurred in
9rsn-wq-trk+0 Jankovic-Naumann, Austria 2012. e
9zppzp-zppvlp0 game soon nished in a draw.
9-+-+-+p+0 14...Na5 is also possible, as 15.Bd5 c6
9+-+-+-+n0 16.Bxf7+ Kxf7 17.b4 Bc7 does not
9-+LzPP+-+0 look dangerous.
9+-sN-vLP+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-+-zP-zP0 9rsn-tr-+k+0
9+-tRQmK-+R0 9zppzp-+p+p0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-+p+0
9+-+-vl-+n0
10...e5 9-+L+P+-+0
is is a well tested route to an equal 9+-sN-vLP+-0
endgame. I consider 10...e6!? in the “Step
by Step” chapter.
9PzP-+-zP-zP0
9+-tR-+RmK-0
11.dxe5 xiiiiiiiiy
After 11.d5, Black should undermine the
centre with 11...c6 or prepare the break 13...Nd7
with 11...Nd7 12.h4 Rc8. 13...Nc6!? is a little more
straightforward. en 14.Ne2 transposes,
11...Bxe5 12.Qxd8 Rxd8 13.0-0
and 14.Nd5 Na5 15.Bg5 Rd7 16.Bb5 c6
17.b4 cxb5 18.bxa5 Re8= 19.Rc5 a6 At this point the game Janczarski-
20.Rfc1 f6 21.Be3 ½-½ was the short game Nurkiewicz, Warsaw 2013, ended in a
Sumets-Shishkin, Crespi 2009. draw. is is a logical outcome, but equal
endgame still does not mean a draw. An
14.Ne2 important factor here is that Zubov is about
e somewhat passive Black’s 13th move, a hundred Elo points lower rated than
which did not target d4, allows White to Timofeev and perhaps that makes him rush
keep more tension with 14.Rc2!? Bf4 to trade more pieces.
Police 18.07.2013
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 19.Nb5 Qa5 20.Bg5 .bxc6 21.Be7 cxb5
9r+l+-trk+0 22.Rxb5 Qa4 23.Bxc5 Qxd1 24.Rxd1 Ba6
9zpp+nzppvlp0 25.Bxf8 Bxb5 26.Bxb5 and the ending is a
9-+-+-+p+0 draw – 26...Bxf8 27.Rd7 f5 28.Bc6 Rc8
9+-zPP+-+-0 29.Bd5+ Kh8 30.g4. Instead, he hands the
9-+-sN-vL-+0 initiative to his opponent.
9+-zP-zP-+-0 16.Bg5 e5 17.Be7 exd4 18.Bxc5 dxe3
9q+-+-zPPzP0 19.0-0?
9+-tRQmKL+R0 White surrenders without much ght.
xiiiiiiiiy 19.Bxf8 exf2+ 20.Kxf2 Bxf8 21.Re1 Bc5+
22.Kf1 bxc6 may look scary, but at least he
12.c6 would have been an exchange up. If we
12.Qb3 Qxb3 13.Nxb3 was bad for look a few more moves ahead, the
White in Swayams-Melkumyan, Riga 2014 manoeuvre 23.Qd8+ Kg7 24.Qg5 Bf5
– 13...a5 14.c6 Nb6 15.e4 bxc6 16.Bc7 25.Qf4 Qe6 26.g4= would ensure a luft for
Na4μ. the king at g2 and sufficient counterplay.
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 12...axb4 13.Na4 Nd7 14.Rxc6 Bb7
9rsnlwq-trk+0 15.Rc1 Bf6
9+-+-zppvlp0 is is not a mistake, of course, but
9-zpp+-+p+0 Black could have offered the e7-pawn –
9zp-zPp+-+n0 15...Nxb6!? 16.Nxb6 Qxb6 17.Bxe7 Rfe8
9-zP-zP-+-vL0 18.Bc5 Qa5 19.Kf1 Nf6 with tangible
threats. After the text, the game sets course
9+-sNLzP-+-0 to a peaceful end.
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9+-tRQmK-sNR0 16.Bxf6 Nhxf6 17.Nf3 Nxb6 18.Nc5
xiiiiiiiiy Bc8 19.Qb3 Nbd7 20.0-0 Qa5 21.Rc2
Nxc5 22.Rxc5 Qxa2 23.Qxb4 Ra4
12.cxb6 24.Qb1 Ba6 25.Qxa2 Rxa2 26.Bxa6
White cannot preserve his space Rxa6 27.Rc7 e6 28.Ne5 Ne4 29.Rfc1 Ra2
advantage since 12.a3 axb4 13.axb4 Na6 30.f3 Nd6 31.R1c2 Rxc2 ½-½
14.Rb1? drops the c5-pawn. White’s lag in
development left the c3-knight hanging.
Chapter 4. 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 with
...b6
Main Ideas
In this chapter I will offer you a simple
XIIIIIIIIY
and straightforward way to combat the 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
London System by a hybrid between the 9zppzp-+pzpp0
Queen’s Gambit and the Queen’s Indian. Its 9-+-vlpsn-+0
main pluses are: 9+-+p+-+-0
It is very reliable for Black; 9-+-zP-vL-+0
It is easy to learn; 9+-+-zP-+-0
It is practically unexplored so your 9PzPPsN-zPPzP0
opponents would not find models to
follow; 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
It is psychologically unpleasant for xiiiiiiiiy
White since his main plan of
pushing e4 does not work. Our rst goal is to make White de ne
the place of his bishop at once. at is
We start with: important since if he does not retreat it to
g3, we take on f4 and aim to trade the
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nd2 Bd6! other bishopvia a6. In this scenario we need
White’s move order does not bother us – our knight on b8 in order to support
we play the same against 4.Nf3. ...Ba6: 5.Ngf3 Bxf4 6.exf4 b6 7.Bd3 c5 (or
Depending on your repertoire against 7...0-0 8.Qe2 a5) 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 Ba6=.
1.d4, you could also choose 1.d4 e6 2.Nf3
d5 3.Bf4 Bd6 4.Bg3 Nf6 or move orders
with 1...Nf6, 2...e6.
XIIIIIIIIY
Chapter 4. 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 with
...b6
Step by Step
with little chances of showing activity.
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3
I analyse in detail the Jobava Attack 4...Bb4+ is a more exploitative attempt
3.Nc3 e6 in Game 14 Sheng – So, rapid, since the f4-bishop can neither protect
chess.com 2017. e other good answer, the a5-e1 diagonal nor is it pinning the
3...g6, is covered in Chapter 2. Another f6-knight. Still, 5.Nd2 keeps things
version of it – 1.d4.d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.Nc3, is under control. In my opinion, the most
considered in Chapter 6. challenging retort is:
4...c5, aiming at playing against an
3...e6
isolator – 5.Nc3
3...c5 4.Nc3, 4.c3 – see Chapter 6.
XIIIIIIIIY 5.dxc5 Bxc5 6.Nc3 leads to a popular
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 position from the 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6
9zppzp-+pzpp0 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Bf4 Nf6 5.e3 c5 6.dxc5
9-+-+psn-+0 Bxc5 variation, with a clear tempo up
for Black.
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 5...cxd4 6.exd4 Bb4
9+-+-zP-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9tRN+QmKLsNR0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+psn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
4.Nd2 9-vlPzP-vL-+0
4.c4 does not t in with the concept of 9+-sN-+-+-0
the London System. at does not mean it 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
is a bad move and we should be ready to
face it. 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
4...Bd6 5.Bxd6 Qxd6 6.Nc3 0-0 is
certainly possible, but it would leave us 7.Nf3
e greedy 7.Bxb8?! Bxc3+ 8.bxc3
XIIIIIIIIY
Rxb8 9.Qa4+ Bd7 10.Qxa7?! brings 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
White to the edge of losing after 10...0- 9zppzp-+pzpp0
0 11.Nf3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Bc6. 9-+-vlp+-+0
7.a3?! hands Black the initiative after 9+-+p+-+-0
7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qa5 9.Nf3 0-0! 9-+-zPn+-+0
10.Rc1 Bd7. 9+-+-zPNvL-0
7...0-0 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nd5 10.Bd2 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
Nc6 11.a3 Be7=. Black has won the battle 9tRN+QmKL+R0
for the tempo, Vitiugov-Zvjaginsev, rapid, xiiiiiiiiy
St Petersburg 2014.
a) 6.Bxd6 Nxd6 7.Nbd2 b6 8.c4 Bb7
4.Bd3 Bd6 5.Bxd6
9.cxd5;
5.Bg3 c5 or 5...0-0 transpose. Instead, b) 6.c4!? Nxg3 7.hxg3 c6 8.g4!?ƒ,
5...Ne4? drops a pawn owing to 6.Bxe4 Vazquez-Candela, Madrid 2013.
dxe4 7.Qg4. Finally, 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Ne5 is an attempt
5...Qxd6 6.Nd2 0-0 7.f4 is senseless, as to save a tempo on Bg3. However, White
after 7...c5 8.c3 cxd4 White has to lacks the option of f4 in this line. A solid
recapture 9.cxd4 when 9...b6 is pleasant for retort is 5...0-0 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3 Nc6
Black. (Another consistent plan is 7...b6 8.Nd2
Ba6.)
4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Bg3 should transpose to
the main line after 5...0-0. XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
Many adepts of the London System 9zpp+-+pzpp0
prefer to avoid the Stonewall set-up: 9-+nvlpsn-+0
5...Ne4, planing to meet Nbd2 and
Bd3 by ...f5. I do not believe that
9+-zppsN-+-0
wasting a tempo on move 5 could be the 9-+-zP-vL-+0
best option. White has at least two 9+-zPLzP-+-0
promising options: 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRN+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Now 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.dxc5
is harmless owing to 10...Bxf4 11.exf4
e5 12.fxe5 Qxe5+ 13.Qe2 Qb8!? 14.0-0
Re8 15.Qc2 Ng4 16.g3 Ne5, when
17.Be2 runs into 17...Bf5.
XIIIIIIIIY
Giri chose against Hou in Wijk aan Zee 6.f4
2016:
6.Ngf3 looks totally harmless. We have
8.Nd2 Qc7 9.Ndf3 b6 10.Nxc6 a wide range of possible plans. Simplest
10.Bg3 Ne7 11.Qb1 Nf5 is ne for is to play for ...e5 with 6...0-0 7.Bd3
Black. Nbd7.
XIIIIIIIIY
10.h4!? Bb7 11.h5 cxd4 12.exd4 Ne4 9rsnl+k+-tr0
13.Bh2 f6∞.
9zppzp-+pzpp0
10...Qxc6 11.Ne5 Qc7 12.Qf3 Ne4! 9-+-wqpsn-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+p+-+-0
9r+l+-trk+0 9-+-zP-zP-+0
9zp-wq-+pzpp0 9+-+-zP-+-0
9-zp-vlp+-+0 9PzPPsN-+PzP0
9+-zppsN-+-0 9tR-+QmKLsNR0
9-+-zPnvL-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-zPLzPQ+-0 White has built a Stonewall formation
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 with two details in his favour – he has
9tR-+-mK-+R0 traded his bad bishop, and he has not
xiiiiiiiiy committed his king to the kingside. In
order to insure myself against long castling,
13.Nc4?! Bxf4 14.Qxf4 Qxf4 15.exf4 I would play 6...Qb6! 7.Rb1 c5 8.c3 Bd7
Ba6 16.Bxe4 dxe4μ, and miraculously 9.Bd3 Bb5 with nice prospects for a
saved a difficult game. minority pawn attack on the queenside.
Our queen’s knight could help the defence
4...Bd6
from e7.
It is good to make White de ne his
intentions about the f4-bishop rst. After 5.Ngf3 Bxf4 6.exf4 is not without
4...c5, we should also worry about 5.Bd3 venom. It is true that e3-e4 is no longer a
Nc6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bxd6 Qxd6 8.f4, as in threat, but Black may experience lasting
Kramnik-Grandelius, Stavanger 2016. problems with his remaining bad bishop. I
think that its exchange should be our
5.Bg3 primary goal, so we go 6...b6 7.Bd3 c5 (or
5.Bxd6 is best met by 5...Qxd6. 7...0-0 8.Qe2 a5) 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 Ba6=. See
e engines will tell you that 5...cxd6 is Game 12 Baron-Rodshtein, Biel 2016.
completely equal. at may be true after
5.c3 Bxf4 is similar to the above line.
6.Bd3 Nc6 7.c3 0-0 8.Ne2 e5 9.0-0
Re8=, but we lack any active plan. 5...0-0
is move order aims to avoid the check 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.Qe2 nurtures the idea of
from b5: pushing e3-e4-e5 when Black would lack
...Nh5, e.g. 7...c5 8.c3 0-0 9.e4 Be7
5...b6!? 6.Bb5+. It is not really 10.e5∞.
dangerous, but transposes to positions from
the next chapter so you would need more
XIIIIIIIIY
preparation. Play continues: 9rsn-wqk+-tr0
9zplzp-+pzpp0
6...c6 9-zp-vlpsn-+0
6...Nbd7?! 7.Bc6 Rb8 8.c4 earned 9+-+p+-+-0
White space in Stefanova-Rudolf, 9-+-zP-+-+0
Mamaia 2016. 9+-+LzP-vL-0
7.Bd3 Bb7 9PzPPsNQzPPzP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-+-mK-sNR0
9rsn-wqk+-tr0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpl+-+pzpp0
It is easily parried with 7...Ne4, when
9-zppvlpsn-+0 8.Bxe4 dxe4 9.0-0-0 is harmless owing
9+-+p+-+-0 to 9...Qe7, preparing long castling, e.g.
9-+-zP-+-+0 10.Kb1 10...f5 11.f3 Nd7 or 10.f3 exf3
9+-+LzP-vL-0 11.gxf3 Nd7.
9PzPPsN-zPPzP0 However, White could answer 8.c3 with
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 complex play. For instance: 8...Nxd2
xiiiiiiiiy 9.Qxd2 c5 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.f4, or
8...Nd7 9.0-0-0.
8.Ngf3
e simplest solution is:
Or 8.Qe2 c5 9.c3 Nc6 (9...0-0 10.e4!?) 7...0-0 as 8.e4 is not such of a threat –
10.Ngf3 0-0; 8...dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 Bxe4
8.c3 0-0; 11.Qxe4 Nd7 12.Nf3 Nf6 13.Qe2 c5
14.0-0-0 Qc7 looks ne for Black.
8.e4? dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 f5!.
8...c5 9.c3 0-0. 6.c4 is certainly inconsistent with the
knight already committed to d2. Black can
If you still prefer 5...b6, here are more play in the centre with 6...0-0 7.Ngf3 c5 or
White options on move 6: 7...Bb7 8.Rc1 c5.
6.Ngf3 0-0 7.Bd3 Bb7 transposes. White could also try to postpone Ngf3
with 6.c3!? Bb7 7.Bd3 0-0
7...Ne4!? considerably restricts White’s when the typical manoeuvre ...Ne7,
choice, when 8.Nxe4 dxe4 9.Qa4+ Nd7 preparing ...f6, should assure Black of even
10.Ba6 Bxa6 11.Qxa6 leaves White chances. See Game 16 Skoberne-Halkias,
with a slightly more exible pawn Baku 2016, of the next chapter.
structure, although the evaluation
remains equal. 6.Bd3
XIIIIIIIIY 6.Ngf3 b6 7.Ne5 (7.c3 Bb7 8.Bd3 is
9rsn-wq-trk+0 line B.) 7...Bb7 8.Bd3 is line A.
9zplzp-+pzpp0 6...b6 7.Ngf3
9-zp-vlpsn-+0 7.e4 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Bb7 9.Qe2 Nxe4
9+-+p+-+-0 10.Bxe4 Bxe4 11.Qxe4 Nd7=.
9-+-zP-+-+0
7.Qe2 Bb7 8.Bh4 (8.Ngf3 is the main
9+-zPLzP-vL-0 line) is harmless. Black could play in the
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 spirit of this chapter, without ...c5:
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 8...Nc6!?
xiiiiiiiiy
8...c5 9.c3 Nbd7 is quite good, too.
a) 8.a4 c5
9.c3 e5 10.Qd1, when the manoeuvre
I recommend to avoid the Stonewall set- 10...Qe7 11.Ne2 Qe6 unpins the knight.
up 8...Ne4 9.a5 f5 while the white
knight remains on g1 in view of the 7...Bb7
XIIIIIIIIY
possibility of 10.Nh3!. e f3-square 9rsn-wq-trk+0
remains free for the pawn or for the
other knight.
9zplzp-+pzpp0
9-zp-vlpsn-+0
9.Ngf3 Nc6 10.0-0 Bxg3 11.hxg3
occurred in Sergeev-Ovsejevitsch, Zalakaros
9+-+p+-+-0
2010. e game went 11...Qe7 12.Re1 e5 9-+-zP-+-+0
13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.a5 h6 ½- 9+-+LzPNvL-0
½. While the plan with ...e5 does equalize, 9PzPPsN-zPPzP0
it should be the last resort for Black if he 9tR-+QmK-+R0
wants to play for a win. It is better to xiiiiiiiiy
choose a waiting game rst, e.g. ...h6,
...Rfc8, ...Rfb8. A. 8.Ne5; B. 8.c3
b) 8.Qb1 is a known idea in positions 8.0-0 is a solid move, but it is too modest
with ...c5. White is eyeing h7 while to set us problems. We can follow our main
supporting b4. It also denies ...Ne4. e scheme with 8...Ne4 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.c4
best retort is 8...c5 9.Ngf3 Nc6 10.Ne5,
c5 11.Rc1 Nxd2 12.Qxd2 Nd7 13.Rfd1
XIIIIIIIIY
cxd4 14.Nxd4 Ne5. 9r+-+ntrk+0
9zpl+q+pzpp0
If you wish to avoid positions with a 9-zp-vlp+-+0
bishop vs a knight, you could consider 9+-zpp+-+-0
8...Bxg3 (this exchange is always an option
after White has castled short) 9.hxg3 Nbd7
9-+-zP-+-vL0
10.Re1 (10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Ne4) 9+-zPLzP-+Q0
10...c5 11.c3 Qe7=. 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
8.Qe2 is thematic against schemes with xiiiiiiiiy
an early ...c5, but here it is quite
questionable, as we simply stop e3-e4 by 13...g6
8...Ne4!? (8...c5 9.c3 Nc6 is line A13 of the
next chapter.) 9.0-0-0 Nd7 (9...c5!?) Keeping the tension in the centre. e
ank approach is also possible – 13...f5
XIIIIIIIIY 14.0-0 Nf6 15.Bg3 c4 16.Bc2 b5
9r+-wq-trk+0 17.Nf3 b4 18.Ne5 Qe7=.
9zplzpn+pzpp0 14.0-0 f6 15.Bg3 Rd8 16.Rfe1 Bxg3
9-zp-vlp+-+0 17.Qxg3 Nd6 18.Rad1 Qe7
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zPn+-+0 Black maintains a rm grip on e4, while
9+-+LzPNvL-0 his threat ...e5 is real, e.g. 19.a3 e5.
19.f4 does not prevent it due to
9PzPPsNQzPPzP0 19...Rfe8. Black controls the course of
9+-mKR+-+R0 the game so he could choose the best
xiiiiiiiiy timing for ...e5. Perhaps the best White
could do is to open the centre with:
10.Ne5 Bxe5 11.dxe5 Nec5 12.h4
Nxd3+ 13.cxd3 c5 14.h5 b5 15.Kb1 c4ƒ. 19.c4 Ba6 20.Bf1 Nxc4 21.Nxc4 dxc4
22.Qf3 with counterplay.
A. 8.Ne5 Ne4
is is our main idea, but 8...Nbd7!? is b) Another consistent move is 9.f4 c5
more safe and could be the best 10.c3 Ne4 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Bb5 Now
continuation. e obvious plus of this simplest is to kill the strong knight:
move is that it does not allow Qh5. White
on his turn can deny us ...Ne4 with:
XIIIIIIIIY
nasty) 26...fxg6 27.Qe5 Rc6 28.Kb1 Qc4 A3. 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.Nxd7 Qxd7
29.Rhe1 a3 30.Qe2=. 12.Bb5
12.Bc4 Bd5 13.Bxd5 exd5 14.Bxd6
19.Nd7 dxc3 20.Nf6+ Kh8 21.Nxh7 Qxd6 is equal, but we could also try
cxb2+ 22.Kxb2 Be5+ 23.Rd4 Bxd4+ 12...g6, followed by ...f5.
24.exd4 Rac8 25.Bf6 Qc2+ 26.Ka1 Qc3+
with a perpetual check. 12...Bc6 13.Bxc6 Qxc6 14.c3 b5 15.0-0
a5
XIIIIIIIIY
A2. 10.0-0-0 f5 11.Nxe4 fxe4 12.Be2 Rf5 9r+-+-trk+0
13.Qh3
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-zp-+pzpp0
9r+-wq-+k+0 9-+qvlp+-+0
9zplzpn+-zpp0 9zpp+-+-+Q0
9-zp-vlp+-+0 9-+-zPp+-+0
9+-+psNr+-0 9+-zP-zP-vL-0
9-+-zPp+-+0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-+-zP-vLQ0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9PzPP+LzPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-mKR+-+R0 Black is more active, but the position
xiiiiiiiiy remains equal since White has no
weaknesses – 16.Rfc1 Rfb8 17.b3 a4=.
13...Bxe5
B. 8.c3 Ne4 9.Qc2
13...Nxe5 14.dxe5 Bxe5 15.Bg4 Qf6
9.Qe2 is commonly met by 9...Nbd7
16.c3 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Qxc3+ is only a draw.
(although 9...c5 and 9...a5 also deserve
14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.f4! exf3 16.gxf3 Nxf3 attention). Play might continue 10.0-0-0
17.Bd3 d4
Weaker is 10.Ne5 Bxe5.
17...Qe8 is also noteworthy – 18.Bxf5
In Yermolinsky-Luther, Tekirdag 2016,
18.Bxc7 Ng5 19.Qg3 Ne4 20.Bxe4 Black showed a fresh plan against 10.0-
dxe4 21.Be5 Qf7 22.h4 Rf3 23.Qg2 0: 10...Nxg3 11.hxg3 Re8!? 12.Ba6 Qc8
Rf5 24.Qg3=. 13.Bxb7 Qxb7, with ...e5 to follow.
18...exf5 19.Qxf5 Qxe3+ 20.Kb1 d4=. 10...Qe7 11.Bh4 (11.Ne5 Bxe5=)
11...Qe8.
18.Bxf5 exf5 19.Qxf5 Qe7 20.exd4 Nxd4
21.Rxd4 Bxh1 22.Qe5= 9...f5
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wq-trk+0 9rsn-wq-trk+0
9zplzp-+-zpp0 9zpl+-+-zpp0
9-zp-vlp+-+0 9-zp-vlp+-+0
9+-+p+p+-0 9+-zppsNp+-0
9-+-zPn+-+0 9-+-zPn+-+0
9+-zPLzPNvL-0 9+-zPLzP-vL-0
9PzPQsN-zPPzP0 9PzPQsN-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0 9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
is position is the main goal of our plan 11.f3
with the early ...b6. Remember that the
white knight should be already on f3, to If White tries to follow the previous
avoid possible Nh3. example with 11.Ndf3, we can answer
11...Qe7 12.Qe2 Bc6 (12...a5!?) 13.Bf4
10.c4 Be8.
is is more accurate than 10.0-0, when
11.Bxe4?! fxe4 12.0-0-0 is simply bad
Black could already take the bishop –
owing to 12...cxd4 13.exd4 Bxe5
10...Nxg3 11.hxg3 Nd7.
14.dxe5 Qg5 15.Kb1 Ba6 16.Ka1 Bd3
10.Ne5 is well met by 10...c5, waiting 17.Qc1 Nd7μ.
for White to de ne his plans. We want to 11.Nxe4 fxe4 12.Be2 Nc6 is balanced –
see where he is going to castle and whether 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.0-0
he will play f3. e5=.
10...Nd7 11.Ndf3 (11.Nxd7 Qxd7 11...Nxd2
12.Bf4=) is a bit easier for White. For
instance: e engines assess that Black has more
space, so they prefer to keep more pieces
11...Nxg3 12.hxg3 Bxe5 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 – 11...Nf6!? 12.0-0 Qc7. It is up to you
14.dxe5 d4 15.exd4 Bxg2 16.Rh2 Bf3 to decide, according to your mind frame
17.Be2 Bxe2 18.Qxe2 h6 19.f4; for the game.
11...Ndf6 12.Bf4 (12.Bh4 Qe8) 12.Qxd2 Nc6=.
12...Nh5 (12...c5 13.h4) 13.0-0 c5
14.Be2 a6 15.a4 Qc7. 10...Nd7 11.0-0
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY does not fear an open h- le. On the
9r+-wq-trk+0 contrary, he might use it in his favour. e
9zplzpn+-zpp0 engines like 11...Bxg3 12.hxg3 c5 13.cxd5
9-zp-vlp+-+0 exd5 14.Bb5 Ndf6, but they tend to
9+-+p+p+-0 overestimate the importance of the e4-
9-+PzPn+-+0 forepost.
9+-+LzPNvL-0 Human grandmasters would prefer to
9PzPQsN-zPPzP0 keep the dark-squared bishop and part with
9tR-+-+RmK-0 the knight: 11...Nxg3! 12.hxg3, see Game
xiiiiiiiiy 13 Van Foreest-Jakubowski, Berlin 2017.
Berlin 18.03.2017
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9zpl+-+-+p0 9zpl+-wq-+p0
9-zp-vl-snp+0 9-+-vl-snp+0
9+-zpp+p+-0 9+Lzpp+p+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9Q+-+-+-+0
9+-+LzPNzP-0 9+-+-zPNzP-0
9PzP-+QzPP+0 9PzP-sN-zPP+0
9+NtR-+RmK-0 9+-tRR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
17.Ba6! It may look that Black’s bishop 18...Rfc8 19.Ba6 Bc6 20.Qc2 Rcb8
is “bad”, but two other positional factors 21.Nb3 Rb6 22.Bf1. Now instead of
have higher priority here: White lacks 22...Rab8³, Black erred with 22...Ba4?!
space so it is good to trade minor pieces; 23.Bc4!= and even went on to lose the
White cannot effectively attack the game.
hanging pawns until the black bishop is
alive. If White had a dark-squared 13.Rfc1 Qe7
bishop, he would have targeted the c5- It seems that Jakubowski is still hesitant
about his plan and postpones his decision.
pawn (with Na4, Ba3). In the concrete
It was time to start the offensive with
position, it is more realistic to hit d5.
13...g5!.
17...Qd7 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.b3 with
complex play. 14.a3 a5 15.cxd5 cxd5
XIIIIIIIIY
14...exd5 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Rfd1 Qe7 9r+-+-trk+0
17.Bb5 Nf6 18.Qa4 9+l+nwq-zpp0
White is trying to trade bishops, but in 9-zp-vlp+-+0
vain. He is doomed to remain with both 9zp-+p+p+-0
clumsy pieces – the bishop and the d2- 9-+-zP-+-+0
knight. Black is already better. 9zP-+LzPNzP-0
9-zPQsN-zPP+0
9tR-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
16.Nb1
16.Bb5!, hitting the d7-knight, would
have prevented 16...g5 altogether.
16...Rad8 would not help as then White
XIIIIIIIIY
would attack b6 with 17.Qb3. at means, e threat ...h3 should have been
Black would have to play for equalization prevented with 27.Qf1, intending to meet
with 16...Nf6 17.Qb3 h6 18.Ne5 Rfc8. 27...Qh7 by 28.Rc2. en 28...Rf6
29.Rac1 h3 is winning, but Black has to
16...g5 17.Nc3 Rac8 18.Qe2 g4 19.Ne1 nd the line 30.Nb5 hxg2 31.Qxg2
h5 20.Ba6 Nf6 21.Qb5 Rb8 22.Bxb7
Rxb7 23.Nd3?
XIIIIIIIIY
By trading the bishops, White prepared 9-+-+n+k+0
to invade through the c- le. It is certainly a 9+r+-+-+q0
serious threat, but only enough to keep the 9-zp-+ptr-+0
balance. Black’s potential attack on the 9zpN+p+p+-0
opposite wing ensures sufficient
counterplay, and White should have
9-+-zP-zP-+0
devised a solid stand against it. e e1- 9zP-+-zPPzp-0
knight may be passive, but it is a good 9-zPR+-+Q+0
defender. For instance, it prevents ...h4. 9+-tR-+-mK-0
Instead of moving it, White could have xiiiiiiiiy
simply double his rooks on the c- le, e.g.
23.Rc2, since 23...h4? 24.gxh4 g3 would be 31...Rd7! (31...Rh6 32.Rc8=) 32.Rc8
neutralised with 25.f4! Ng4 26.Nf3. Kf7 33.Ra8 Rh6 34.Rcc8 Nf6 35.Na7!
Rh2 36.Qxg3 Rh3 37.Qg2 Qh4 38.Rf8+
23...h4!μ 24.Nf4 Ke7 39.Rae8+ Nxe8 40.Rxe8+ Kf6
XIIIIIIIIY
41.Rf8+ Rf7 42.Qg5+ Qxg5+ 43.fxg5+
9-+-+-trk+0 Kg7 44.Rxf7+ Kxf7 45.Kg2 Rh7 46.f4
9+r+-wq-+-0 Kg6 and then he should show good
9-zp-vlpsn-+0 technique. It is not trivial to convert the
9zpQ+p+p+-0 exchange.
9-+-zP-sNpzp0
After White’s mistake, Black is winning
9zP-sN-zP-zP-0 with 27...Qh7! 28.Qf1 Rg7 29.Rc2 Rf6.
9-zP-+-zPP+0 Instead, all his advantage goes down the
9tR-tR-+-mK-0 drain and he was lucky to escape:
xiiiiiiiiy
27...h3?? 28.gxh3 Qh4 29.Kg2 Nd6
It transpires that 24.gxh4 loses to 24...g3. 30.Ne2 Rh7 31.Ng1
24...Bxf4
Another continuation of the attack was
24...hxg3 25.fxg3 Bxf4, but the text is
more straightforward.
15.fxe4 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 Nd7 17.exd5 exd5 21.dxc5 Qxc5+ 22.Kh1 Rad8 23.Rc1
18.Rad1 Nf6! Qd6 24.Qf3 f6?? (24...Qe6=) 25.Nc6 Rd7
Preserving the knights for defence. 26.Rfd1 Rc8 27.Ne7+ Nxe7 28.Rxc8+
18...Qc7 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.dxc5 bxc5 Nxc8 29.Rxd6 Nxd6 30.Qc6 Re7 31.h3
21.f5 would retain some threats. (31.Qd5+! Kh8 32.g4 Nb7 33.b4+–)
31...Ne4 32.g4 g5 33.Kg2 Kg7 34.h4
19.c4 gxf4 35.Kf3 Nc5 36.Kxf4?= Nd3+
19.dxc5 bxc5 20.c4 d4 21.b4 Qc7= 37.Kg3 Re3+ 38.Kg2 Re2+ 39.Kf3??
would break the symmetry a little. Ne5+ 40.Kxe2 Nxc6 41.Ke3 Ne5
42.Kf4 Nd3+ 0-1
19...Qc7 20.cxd5
XIIIIIIIIY
Chapter 5. 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 with
...c5
Main Ideas
XIIIIIIIIY
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nd2 Bd6 9r+lwq-trk+0
5.Bg3 0-0 6.Ngf3 c5 7.c3 9zp-+-vlpzpp0
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9-zpn+p+-+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9+-zppzP-+n0
9-+-vlpsn-+0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-zpp+-+-0 9+-zPL+NvL-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
9+-zP-zPNvL-0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+QmKL+R0 White has two sharp ways of attacking –
xiiiiiiiiy Ng5 and h4, threatening Bh2, g4.
Whatever variation we calculate, we always
e sudden burst of popularity of this
should answer rst how we meet those
line is based on the discovery that 7...Nc6
threats. If we neutralise them and live up to
8.Bd3 b6 9.e4 Be7!! holds Black’s position
a short castle from White, we could start
together. It is critical for him as he cannot
thinking about more long-term planning.
avoid it by delaying ...Nc6 in favour of
...b6: White could choose the particular As long as we maintain the tension in the
move order 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3, when 7...b6?! centre, Ng5 will be connected with an
(7...Nc6!) 8.e4! is slightly more pleasant for unclear pawn sac, for instance: 11.Ng5
White. us the rst thing you should Bxg5 12.Qxh5 g6 13.Qe2 cxd4 14.h4
learn is how to deal with the following Be7!?. erefore, the rst players
position: commonly choose:
10.e5 Nh5 11.a3 a5 12.Qe2 and we have a wide
choice at our disposal.
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9+-+-vlpzpp0 9+-+-vlpzpp0
9-zpn+p+-+0 9qzpn+p+-+0
9zp-zppzP-+n0 9zp-zppzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-zPL+NvL-0 9zP-zP-wQNzP-0
9-zP-sNQzPPzP0 9-zP-sN-zPPmK0
9tR-+-mK-+R0 9tR-+-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
On the defensive side, all is clear – we’ll Having exchanged the bishops, we
stay with ...g6 and ...f5 at some point. should execute the second stage of our plan
What about the queenside? In most games – to open the f- le with ...Rae8, ...f6.
Black opts for ...c4, ...b5. For instance,
12...Bd7!? 13.0-0?! c4 14.Bc2 b5, or Of course, White should delay castling.
12...Ra7!? 13.0-0?! c4, as in Game 15
Grischuk-Nakamura, Skopje 2015. While A typical manoeuvre is 13.Nf1. I
this plan quickly creates targets in White’s propose to always counter-attack it by
camp, at a later stage we might regret that 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 b5!
we deprived our light-squared bishop of XIIIIIIIIY
any prospects. 9r+-wq-trk+0
I think that our game would be much
9+l+-vlpzpp0
easier if we got rid of that bishop before 9-+n+p+-+0
closing the ank. My recommendation is: 9zpp+pzP-+n0
9-+-zP-+-+0
12...Bb7!?, preparing to meet 13.0-0 by
9zP-+L+NvL-0
13...Nxg3 14.hxg3 Qc8 15.Kh2 Ba6
16.Rh1 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Qa6 18.Qe3
9-zP-+QzPPzP0
9tR-+-mKN+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Bxb5 a4!„, intending ...Qb6, ...Ba6.
XIIIIIIIIY
14.fxg3 Qc8 15.Bxh7+ Kxh7 16.Ng5+
XIIIIIIIIY
Kh6 17.Qd3 g6 18.h5 Kg7 19.Nxf7=. 9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpl+-vlpzpp0
Let’s now consider White’s other major 9-zp-snp+-+0
plans. 9+-zppsN-zP-0
9-+-zPnzP-+0
9+-zPLzPQ+-0
White plays Ne5 9PzP-sN-vL-zP0
7...Nc6 8.Bd3 b6 (or 7...b6!? 8.Bd3
Nc6) 9.Ne5 Bb7
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0 We can do little to avoid it. e big
9zpl+-+pzpp0 question is who is ahead in the race. I think
I know the answer – Black’s attack is more
9-zpnvlpsn-+0 dangerous, but only because of the novelty:
9+-zppsN-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 15...cxd4! 16.exd4 b5!‚.
9+-zPLzP-vL-0 b) 11.Qb1 is less committing as it
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 assumes a short castle. I consider in the
9tR-+QmK-+R0 annotations to Game 17 Sandipan-
xiiiiiiiiy Kryvoruchko, rapid, Dubai 2014, several
good plans against it. A safe stand is
e simplest way to treat this position is 11...g6!? 12.0-0 Nh5!? 13.Bf2 f6 14.Nef3
to ignore the e5-knight and to aim to put Nc6!?
our own knight on e4. We’ll start with
...Ne7, but then we’ll need the manoeuvre XIIIIIIIIY
...Ne7-f5-d6. Once our king’s knight lands 9r+-wq-trk+0
on e4, we’ll be in command, and our 9zpl+-+-snp0
counterplay on the queenside should 9-zpnvlpzpp+0
promise us excellent chances. White has 9+-zpp+-+-0
tested two ways of contesting e4 – with
Qf3 and Qb1:
9-+-zP-zPP+0
9+-zPLzPN+-0
a) 10.f4 Ne7 11.Qf3 (11.0-0?! Ne4 9PzP-sN-vL-zP0
12.Bh4 f6) 11...Nf5 12.Bf2 Be7! 13.g4 9tRQ+-+RmK-0
Nd6 14.g5 Nfe4 15.0-0-0 xiiiiiiiiy
A key position for the plan with Ne5. Our “Hedgehog” on the kingside is
exible and sturdy. See the similar Game
16 Skoberne-Halkias, Baku 2016.
XIIIIIIIIY
White castles short words, he would often play with a draw in
Instead of de ning his plan with 9.Ne5 the pocket. I prefer more double-edged
or 9.e4, White could choose the play, so I offer to sidestep the plan with
noncommittal 9.0-0. I suggest to answer Bb5 by delaying ...Nc6. In line B I
9...Bxg3 10.hxg3 Bb7, when White does consider the clever move order 7...b6! and
not have a clear plan. 11.Qa4 could be met we lead out our knight only when we see
by 11...Rb8, preparing ...c4. Bd3.
Kamsky-Goryachkina
Gibraltar 2016
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY the f- le with ...f6 or ...f5. Our typical
9r+-wq-trk+0 stand on the kingside should be similar to
9+-+lvlpzpp0 the following diagram:
9-zpn+p+-+0
Analysis
9zp-zppzP-+n0
9-+-zP-+-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zP-zPL+NvL-0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9-zP-sNQzPPzP0 9+l+-vlp+p0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 9-zpn+p+p+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zp-zppzP-+n0
9-+-zP-+-zP0
13...c4!? 14.Bc2 b5 15.Rfe1 Nxg3 9zP-zPL+NvL-0
16.hxg3 b4ƒ. 9-zP-sNQzPP+0
I’m not entirely against the idea of 9+-+RmK-+R0
closing the centre, but I prefer to resort to it xiiiiiiiiy
after having traded light-squared bishops
with ...Bb7, ...Qc8, ...Ba6. at would 14...f6 15.exf6 Rxf6„.
reduce the opponent’s attacking potential:
Here are negative examples where Black
Nguyen-Tregubov remained without counterplay:
XIIIIIIIIY
Grachev-Litvinov It looks that White has made all the right
Moscow 2016 moves. His pieces are active, he is
XIIIIIIIIY threatening the rook. But he delayed
castling for too long. After 14...Nf5!!
9r+-+-trk+0 15.Bxe8 Rxe8 16.Bf2 cxd4 17.exd4
9+-+n+p+p0 (17.cxd4 Bb4) 17...f6 18.g4 Nxf2 19.Qxf2
9-zplwqp+p+0 Nh6 20.g5 fxe5 21.gxh6 exd4 22.cxd4
9zp-zppsN-+-0 Ba6‚, his positions is spectacularly falling
9-+-zP-+-+0 apart. e a6-bishop plays a big role in
9+-zPLzP-+-0 that.
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 Analysis
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 XIIIIIIIIY
xiiiiiiiiy 9r+-wq-+-mk0
e theory of the “bad” bishop might 9zp-+lvlp+p0
prompt White to take on d7. However, 9-zpn+p+rzP0
17.Nxd7 Qxd7 would be even slightly 9+-+pzP-zp-0
more pleasant for Black because he would
have a clear plan of advancing on the
9-+-+-+-+0
queenside. 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.a4= is more 9+-zP-+NvL-0
solid. 9P+LwQ-zPP+0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
Finally, I want to show you two extreme
examples to support my assertion that we
xiiiiiiiiy
should weigh the dynamic factors rst: 22...Na5! 23.Bxg6 hxg6μ. Again, Black’s
“bad” bishop could become the hero of the
Analysis day.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+r+k+0 eoretical status
is set-up is still too young and
9zplwq-snpzpp0 unexplored. I could not understand well
9-zp-vlp+-+0 what Romero and Sedlak recommend for
9+LzppsN-+-0 White as they prefer to show examples with
9-+-zPnzP-vL0 awful play from Black.
9+-zP-zP-+-0 It seems that lately White tends to avoid
9PzP-sNQ+PzP0 Bd3 in favour of Bb5 (which is easy to
9+-+RmK-+R0 prevent, as I have shown!). Black, for his
xiiiiiiiiy part, investigates the early ...Nh5, as in
Game 19 Kamsky-Nakamura, Saint Louis
2017.
In all events, Black should expect rich, endgames, so typical for the set-ups with
double-edged middlegames with mutual ...Bf5.
chances. It is unlikely to get early
Chapter 5. 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 with
...c5
Step by Step
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nd2 Bd6 13.Bxf7+!! Kxf7 14.Qc4+ was killing:
5.Bg3 0-0 14...Kf8 15.Ng5 Nd5 16.Qxd5 Qxd5
5...c5 should transpose. 17.Nxd5 Nf6 18.Nb6 Rb8 19.f3+–;
14...Ke8 15.Qe6+ Kd8 16.Ng5 Rf8
5...Bxg3 is dubious in all possible 17.Nf7+ Rxf7 18.Qxf7; 14...Ke7
settings, since it offers White a tangible 15.Ng5 Rf8 16.Qe6+ Kd8 17.Nf7+
structural advantage – the semi-open h- le. Rxf7 18.Qxf7 Kc7 19.0-0-0+–.
For instance, 6.hxg3 Nbd7 7.g4! is 13...Qb6 (13...Ne4 14.Qd5) 14.Qa3! e4
obviously in White’s favour.
15.Nd2+– Qa5 16.g5 Qxg5 17.Ndxe4
I have realised a more complex version of Nxe4 18.Nxe4 Qa5+ (18...Qe7 19.Nd6+
the idea of g4 in the game Kiril Georgiev- Kf8 20.Nxf7 Qxa3 21.bxa3 Rg8
Lazic, Padowa 2015. In it I had already the 22.Rxh7+–) 19.Kf1 1-0
king’s knight on f3: 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Bg3
6.Ngf3
Bxg3?! 6.hxg3 Nbd7 7.c4 dxc4 8.Bxc4 c5
6.Bd3 prunes one important branch
9.Nc3 a6 10.a4 cxd4 11.Qxd4 Qa5
based on Bf1-b5. Play should transpose to
(11...Nb6 12.Qxd8+ Kxd8 13.Rh4)
line A after 6...c5 7.c3 Nc6! 8.Ngf3. White
XIIIIIIIIY has also tried 8.f4, but 8...Ne7 9.Ngf3 Nf5
9r+l+k+-tr0 10.Bf2 Ng4
9+p+n+pzpp0
9p+-+psn-+0
9wq-+-+-+-0
9P+LwQ-+-+0
9+-sN-zPNzP-0
9-zP-+-zPP+0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12.g4! e5 13.Qd6
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 10.Qh5 g6 11.Qe2 cxd4! 12.cxd4 Nbc6
9r+lwq-trk+0 13.Ngf3 Nb4 14.0-0 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 a5
9zpp+-+pzpp0 solves Black’s main positional problem –
9-+-vlp+-+0 the activation of the light-squared
9+-zpp+n+-0 bishop. e blitz game Grachev-
9-+-zP-zPn+0 Malakhov, Moscow 2014, went 16.Rfc1
Ba6 17.Qe3, when simple trade of rooks
9+-zPLzPN+-0 would assure Black of penetration
9PzP-sN-vLPzP0 squares down the c- le – 17...Rc8!
9tR-+QmK-+R0 18.h4 Rxc1 Rxc1 Qb8 20.h5 Rc8=.
xiiiiiiiiy 10.Ngf3 is even easier – 10...Ba6!
11.Qe2 Nxf2 12.Qxf2 Qb6 13.Rb1 f6 is 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.0-0 b5= (or
pretty for Black – we control the centre, 12...Nc7=), Grachev-Sakaev, St
White cannot castle long. Petersburg 2015.
10...g6
On the other hand, the delay of Ngf3
discourages lines with ...b6 without ...Nc6 10...h6 is not safer – 11.Ne2 Ba6
because White could push e3-e4: 6.Bd3 c5 12.Bxa6 Nxa6 13.0-0 b5 14.f4 with f4-
7.c3 b6?! 8.e4! f5 in mind.
e difference with line A11 is that our 11.h4! Ba6 12.h5 with an initiative,
knight cannot reach h5. is is not although 12...Bxd3 13.Qxd3 g5 keeps
dramatic, but makes our castling position things under control.
more vulnerable:
6...c5 7.c3
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0 9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zp-+-+pzpp0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-zp-vlpsn-+0 9-+-vlpsn-+0
9+-zpp+-+-0 9+-zpp+-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-zPL+-vL-0 9+-zP-zPNvL-0
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
8...Be7 9.e5 Nfd7 10.Qb1! A. 7...Nc6; B. 7...b6!
11.0-0 looks harmless. Kamsky twice I think that instead of 11...Bd7, Black
failed to equalize with White against could play 11...a5 (intending ...Ba6)
11...Bd7, e.g. 12.Re1 12.Qe2 Bb7 as in the main line. Instead,
12...c4 13.Bc2 b5 14.Ng5 Nxg3 (14...g6!?
15.h4∞) 15.Bxh7+ Kh8 16.Nxf7+ Rxf7
17.fxg3 is a draw by perpetual check.
11...a5
11...g6 is not a bad move either.
12.Qe2
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY Gibraltar 2016.
9r+lwq-trk+0
13...g6
9+-+-vlpzpp0
9-zpn+p+-+0 13...c4 would give White a freehand on
9zp-zppzP-+n0 the kingside – 14.Bc2 b5 15.Ng5.
9-+-zP-+-+0 14.Qe3
9zP-zPL+NvL-0
9-zP-sNQzPPzP0 Or 14.Nf1 cxd4 15.cxd4 b5!.
9tR-+-mK-+R0 14...cxd4 15.cxd4 b5
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
12...Bb7!? 9+-+lvlp+p0
Played with the undisguised intention to 9-+n+p+p+0
trade light-squared bishop with ...Qc8,
...Ba6. en Black’s queen could attack the
9zpp+pzP-+n0
b2-pawn through b5. 9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-+LwQNvL-0
Another approach is to prepare ...f5, e.g. 9-zP-sN-zPPzP0
12...g6 13.0-0 f5 14.exf6 Bxf6. It is safer
from a practical standpoint, as it anticipates
9+-+RmK-+R0
any White’s attack on the kingside, but we xiiiiiiiiy
remain with a bad bishop. 16.h4 Nxg3 17.fxg3 f5 18.exf6
Black can choose a pawn storm with
18.Bxb5 Nb4 19.axb4 Bxb5 20.bxa5
...c4, ...b5 after the prophylactic move
Rxa5 promises sufficient compensation.
12...Ra7!?. See Game 15 Grischuk-
Nakamura, Skopje 2015. 18...Bxf6 19.Ne5 (19.h5 Qc7)
19...Nxe5 20.dxe5 Be7 21.Nf3 b4 22.h5
He could also prepare ...c4 with (22.Qh6? Rf7 23.h5 g5) 22...g5 23.0-0
12...Bd7!?. It maintains the hit on d4 so bxa3 24.bxa3 Rb8 25.Kh2 a4 26.Rb1÷.
13.Ng5 would drop the pawn. e only I’m afraid that Black does not have serious
thing I do not like about it is that Black winning chances with his weak king.
abandons the ne positional plan of trading
like-squared bishops. In my opinion, White 13.Rd1!?
should delay castling in order to provoke e direct 13.Ng5?! Bxg5 14.Qxh5 just
some weakening around our king: drops the d4-pawn.
13...cxd4 14.cxd4 Nxg3 15.fxg3 f5 may e only other way to delay castling is
be interesting, but White should be 13.Nf1. I propose that we thematically
slightly better after 16.exf6 Bxf6 meet it by 13...cxd4 (or even 13...b5 at
17.Ng5 h6 18.Qxe6+ Kh8 19.Nf7+ once) 14.cxd4 b5!
Rxf7 20.Qxf7 Qe8+ 21.Qxe8+ Rxe8+
e engines also claim that 13...Qc8
22.Kd1². is line shows the drawback
14.Ng5 g6 15.Nxh7 cxd4 16.Nxf8
of 12...Bb7 – it leaves the e6-pawn
unprotected. If Black refrains from ...f5, Qxf8 gives full compensation for the
exchange, but it is far from obvious. For
White has a draw with 15...Rc8 16.Ng5
instance: 17.cxd4 Nxd4 18.Qd1 Qg7
(or 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Ng5+ Kh6
19.Ne3 Nxg3 20.hxg3 Qxe5° or Kh8) 16.Bh2 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 f6 18.exf6
17.Nd2 dxc3 18.bxc3 d4 19.c4 Bxa3 Rxf6 (18...Nxf6=) 19.N1d2 Qd7 20.0-0
20.0-0 Be7 21.Qg4 Nb4 22.Be4 Bxe4 Raf8 21.Rde1 Nf4 22.Bxf4 Rxf4 23.g3
23.Nxe4 Nxg3 24.Qxg3 Qd8°. R4f5 24.Re3=.
XIIIIIIIIY 15...Ba6 16.Qc2 f5 17.exf6 Nxf6
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+l+-vlpzpp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+n+p+-+0 9r+q+-trk+0
9zpp+pzP-+n0 9+-+-vl-zp-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9lzpn+psn-zp0
9zP-+L+NvL-0 9zp-zpp+-+-0
9-zP-+QzPPzP0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9tR-+-mKN+R0 9zP-zP-+NvL-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9+L+RmKN+R0
15.Bxb5 a4! 16.Bd3 Qa5+ 17.N1d2 xiiiiiiiiy
Qb6ƒ.
At rst sight it seems that all the fun is
13...g6 for White, but note a subtle detail –
13...Qc8 is dubious owing to 14.Ng5. White’s king cannot castle! at brings
suspense in the game:
We could prevent that threat with
13...h6 and the engines are fond of this 18.Ne3 cxd4 19.Ng4 (19.cxd4? Qe8
move. I have invested a lot of time in it, but 20.Bh4 Ne4–+) 19...Ne4
I could not convince myself that weakening
the h7-b1 diagonal is the best idea. My 19...d3 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Rxd3 Ne7!
analysis suggests that Black has probably 22.Bd6 Bxd3 23.Qxd3 Qc4 24.Qh7+
good counterplay, but my human intuition Kf7 25.Ne5+ Bxe5 26.Bxe5 Rg8∞.
hints that 13...g6 is safer. Let’s delve deeper 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Rxd4 Rf5 22.f3 Nxg3
in 13...h6:
23.hxg3 Bc5 24.Rf4 Bd6 25.Rd4 What a
a) 14.Nf1 Qc8 15.Bb1 mess! You can take the draw or play on
with ...Qe8.
15.Ne3 Ba6 16.Ng4 (16.Bxa6 Qxa6
17.c4 Rfd8) 16...Bxd3 17.Rxd3 Qa6 18.Bh4?! cxd4 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.cxd4
18.Qe3 Qb5³; Ne7 21.Qh7+ Kf7 22.Ne3 Rh8 23.Qc2
Qxc2³.
15.h4 Ba6 (15...Nxg3 16.Nxg3 Ba6
17.Nh5 Kh8 18.Nf4 cxd4 19.cxd4 a4 b) 14.0-0!? Qc8 15.h4 Nxg3 16.fxg3
20.Rh3 Ra7 21.Nh5 Bxd3 22.Qxd3 Ba6 17.g4 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Qa6 19.Qe3
Na5 23.Ng5 g6 24.Nf6 Kg7 25.Nh5+
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9+-+-vlpzp-0 9+-+-vlp+p0
9qzpn+p+-zp0 9qzpn+p+p+0
9zp-zppzP-+-0 9zp-zppzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+PzP0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-zP-wQN+-0 9zP-zP-wQNzP-0
9-zP-sN-+P+0 9-zP-sN-tRPzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0 9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
19...b5 allows White to start the attack at 18...Qb5
once with 20.g5 h5 21.g4 hxg4 22.Nh2÷,
since Black lacks 22...Nxd4. e computer Another idea is 18...b5 19.Nf1 b4 20.h3
comes up with ingenuous defence and cxd4 21.cxd4 bxa3 22.bxa3 Rae8
somehow holds the position, but it is scary 23.N3h2 f5 24.exf6 Bxf6.
to play this over the board. 19.Nf1 Qb3 20.Qd2 Rae8 21.Re1 f6
22.exf6 Bxf6 23.Ne3 Bg7 24.Ng4 b5„.
14.Nf1
We meet 14.h4 by 14...f6 (14...Nxg3 14...b5!
15.fxg3 Qc8 16.0-0 Ba6 is more risky) I recommended the same pawn sac
15.exf6 Rxf6 16.0-0 cxd4=. against 13.Nf1. Whenever White decides
to spend two tempi on the knight
14.Qe3 allows 14...Ba6=. manoeuvre, we could throw in a pawn.
14.0-0 gives us time for our main 14...f5 is another decent retort, but it
strategic idea – 14...Qc8 15.Qe3 hangs on a tactical sequence: 15.exf6 Bxf6
15.h3 Nxg3 16.fxg3 Ba6 17.Rf2 Bxd3 16.Ne3 Bg7 17.Ng4 cxd4 18.cxd4
18.Qxd3 Qc7, preparing ...f6.
15...Nxg3 16.fxg3 Ba6 17.Bxa6 Qxa6
18.Rf2
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY fully compensates for the missing pawn.
9r+-wq-trk+0 For instance:
9+l+-+-vlp0
9-zpn+p+p+0 a) 19...Na5 20.0-0 Ba6 21.Bxa6 Qxa6
9zp-+p+-+n0 22.Qe1 Rfc8 23.Bh4 Bf8 24.Qe3 Nc4
25.Nh6+ Bxh6 26.Qxh6 Nxd2 27.Qxd2
9-+-zP-+N+0 Ng7;
9zP-+L+NvL-0
9-zP-+QzPPzP0 b) 19...Ba6!? 20.Bxa6 Qxa6 21.0-0
9+-+RmK-+R0 Qxe2 22.Rxe2 Nxg3 23.hxg3 Ra7 24.Rc1
xiiiiiiiiy Na5 25.Ne3 Nb3 26.Rc3 Rb8 27.Rec2
Bd8 28.Ng4 Kg7 29.Ne3 Raa8 30.g4 Na1
18...Nf4! 19.Bxf4 Rxf4 20.Qxe6+ Kh8 31.Rc1 Nb3 32.R1c2=.
21.Nge5 Nxe5 22.Nxe5 Qe8 23.Qxe8+
Rxe8 24.Bb5 (24.Be2 Re4=) 24...Re4+!
25.Kf1 Bxe5 26.Bxe8 Ba6+ 27.Kg1 Bxd4 A12. 9.0-0
28.h4 Bxb2 29.Bc6 Bxa3 30.Rxd5 Re6 After the short castle, we can calmly
31.Rd8+ Kg7=. e black pawns are trade bishops:
dangerous.
9...Bxg3
14...Qc8?! is too slow and gives White is looks more straightforward than
good attacking prospects – 15.Ne3 Ba6 9...Bb7, which allows 10.Bh4. Of course,
16.Ng4 Bxd3 17.Rxd3 a4 18.0-0 cxd4 we have 10...Be7 (10...e5? 11.e4) 11.Re1
19.cxd4 Na5 20.Qd2 Nc4 21.Qh6. Ne4, but the text is simpler. As a rule, we
should take on g3, whenever White castles.
15.Bxb5 cxd4 16.cxd4 a4 17.Ne3 Qa5+
18.Rd2 Qb6 19.Ng4 10.hxg3 Bb7
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9+l+-vlp+p0 9zpl+-+pzpp0
9-wqn+p+p+0 9-zpn+psn-+0
9+L+pzP-+n0 9+-zpp+-+-0
9p+-zP-+N+0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-+-+NvL-0 9+-zPLzPNzP-0
9-zP-tRQzPPzP0 9PzP-sN-zPP+0
9+-+-mK-+R0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Black has successfully shifted the focus of e position is roughly equal.
the game to the queenside. His initiative Harikrishna-Nakamura, chess.com blitz
5m+2spm 2016 saw further: 13...h6 14.g4 d4 15.cxd4 (15.g5 dxc3
16.gxf6 cxd2 17.fxg7 Kxg7) 15...cxd4
a) 11.Qe2 Ne7 16.g5 dxe3 17.fxe3 hxg5 18.Nxg5 Qxd3
19.Nde4 Ne5 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Rxf6
More simple is 11...Re8 12.Ne5
Qxe3+ 22.Kh2 Be4 23.Re1 Qxe1 24.Qxe1
(12.Rfe1 e5) 12...Nxe5 13.dxe5 Ne4
Ng4+ 25.Kg1=.
14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Bb5 Rf8 16.Rad1
Qg5, grabbing the e5-pawn. Of course, A13. 9.Qe2 Bb7 10.Rd1
White is very active, but he lacks targets. XIIIIIIIIY
12.dxc5 bxc5 13.e4 Ng6 14.Rad1 Qb6
9r+-wq-trk+0
15.b3 Rad8 16.e5 Nd7=. 9zpl+-+pzpp0
9-zpnvlpsn-+0
b) 11.Ne5 looks more challenging, but 9+-zpp+-+-0
the thematic exchange operation 11...Nxe5! 9-+-zP-+-+0
12.dxe5 Ne4 saves the day.
9+-zPLzPNvL-0
c) Finally, 11.Qa4 also makes sense. 9PzP-sNQzPPzP0
White prepares a queen lift to the kingside 9+-+RmK-+R0
after a possible dxc5. We can ignore the xiiiiiiiiy
threat – 11...Rb8, intending to wait for the
best timing for advancing our queenside A recent and quite fashionable idea.
pawns. en 12.dxc5 bxc5 13.Qh4 can be White brings the rook in the centre while
parried by both: delaying the castle. His idea is to de ne his
further plan after seeing our answer (and
XIIIIIIIIY
take on d2 by rook in the event of Nf6-
9-tr-wq-trk+0 e4xd2).
9zpl+-+pzpp0
9-+n+psn-+0 10.e4 (or 10.dxc5 bxc5 11.e4 Be7) is still
9+-zpp+-+-0 met by 10...Be7.
9-+-+-+-wQ0 10.0-0 has no venom – 10...Bxg3
9+-zPLzPNzP-0 11.hxg3 with a wide choice before Black.
9PzP-sN-zPP+0 e most thematic way is 11...Qe7 (or
9tR-+-+RmK-0 11...Re8) 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Ne4=.
xiiiiiiiiy Nakamura played 11...Ne7, and I would
13...e5 14.e4 Ne7 15.Nxe5 Qc7 16.Ng4 suggest the useful waiting move 11...h6.
Nxg4 17.Qxg4 dxe4 18.Bc4 Ng6 19.Rfe1
10...Re8!?
Kh8 20.Qf5 Rbe8 21.f4!=, and the sharper
10...h6 is another popular retort, but it
line:
does not work well against plans with Nf3-
e5.
10...Ne7 is a ne idea when White has
XIIIIIIIIY
played Ne5 and especially f4, but it does 9-+-tr-trk+0
not make much sense here. White can trade 9zplwq-snpzpp0
bishops and try to mount a piece attack on 9-+-+psn-+0
the kingside. e purest form of this 9+p+psN-+-0
approach is displayed by the game 9-+pzP-+-+0
Kramnik-Hou Yifan, rapid Medias 2016:
9zP-zP-zPQ+-0
11.0-0 Qc7?! 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Ne5 9-zPLsN-zPPzP0
Rad8 14.Qf3! Ng6 9+-+R+RmK-0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-tr-trk+0 16...Nc6?!
9zpl+-+pzpp0
9-zp-wqpsnn+0 e e5-knight should be repelled, not
9+-zppsN-+-0 exchanged. e correct stand was
9-+-zP-+-+0 16...Ne8! 17.Rfe1 g6 with ...f6 in mind.
9+-zPLzPQ+-0 After the text, White was better in the
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 game Shimanov-Lenic, chess.com 2017.
9+-+R+RmK-0 17.Qg3 a5?! and here 18.Nxc6! Qxc6
xiiiiiiiiy 19.Qh4 Qe8 20.g4 would have been
awkward for Black.
15.Bxg6! hxg6 16.Qh3ƒ Ba6 17.Rfe1
Nh7 18.f4 Bb5 19.Ndf3 Qe7 20.Qg3 Be8 11.e4
21.Rf1 Qf6 22.Ng5+– Qe7 23.Rf3 f6 11.0-0 Bxg3 12.hxg3 e5 was comfortable
24.Nxh7. for Black in Javakhadze-Sevian, Dallas 2016
– 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Rxe5 15.Nf3 Re7
However, after 11.0-0 Black could 16.Ba6 Qc8 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.Rd3 Qa6
answer 11...Nf5 and recapture by knight on 19.a3 Qa4.
d6. erefore, it would be more principled
to exchange the bishops at once: 11.Ne5 Qc7
11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Ne5 Qc7 13.0-0 11...Ne7 allows the trick 12.Bb5 Rf8
Rad8 14.a3 13.Nd7.
12.f4 Ne7
14.Qf3!, as in Kramnik’s game, was
stronger.
14...c4 15.Bc2 b5 16.Qf3
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+r+k+0 9r+-wqr+k+0
9zplwq-snpzpp0 9zpl+-vlp+p0
9-zp-vlpsn-+0 9-zpn+p+p+0
9+-zppsN-+-0 9+-zppzP-+n0
9-+-zP-zP-+0 9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-zPLzP-vL-0 9zP-zPL+NvL-0
9PzP-sNQ+PzP0 9-zP-sNQzPPzP0
9+-+RmK-+R0 9+-+RmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
I consider such positions in line A14.
14.Nf1
e main difference is the inclusion of Rd1
14.0-0 Nxg3 solves all the problems –
Re8. To me, it can only be in Black’s favour 15.fxg3
as the rook supports plans with ...e5 and
defends e6 in the event Black plays ...f6. 15.hxg3 h5 (15...f5?! 16.exf6 Bxf6
On the contrary, it is doubtful that the 17.Bb5) 16.b4 Kg7 builds a solid
white rook is more active on d1 than on a1 defensive line. If White pushed g4 at
if Black opts for a queenside pawn storm. some point, we would answer simply
e game Ziegler-Sevian, Stockholm 2016, ...Rh8.
went further:
15...f5 16.exf6 Bxf6 17.Bb5 cxd4
13.Qf3 Nf5 14.Bf2 Be7 (14...Bf8!?) 18.Bxc6 d3 19.Qf2 Bxc6. White does not
15.g4 Nd6 16.g5 Nfe4 17.h4 f6! 18.gxf6 have time to construct Nimzowitsch’s ideal
Bxf6 19.Ng4 Rf8 20.h5 Kh8 (20...Qe7!) blockading set-up Nd4+Ne5.
21.Nxf6 Rxf6 (21...gxf6μ) 22.Bh4 Rf7
23.Qh3 cxd4 24.cxd4 Nf5μ. In this game 14...f5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Ne3 e5ƒ
Black did lose a tempo on Re8-Rf8, but it Black’s centre is hanging, but it is very
was much more important that White dynamic. See the beautiful Game 18
could not castle long. Sedlak-So, Baku 2016.
10.f4
XIIIIIIIIY
10...Ne7 11.Bh4 Ne8 12.Bxe7 Bxe7 Bxc6=, Perez-S.Zhigalko, Doha 2016, was
13.Qh5 g6 14.Qe2 more realistic.
XIIIIIIIIY
e game Ivanisevic-Pavlovic, Belgrade Or 14...cxd4!? (to avoid dxc5) 15.exd4
2014, saw 11.0-0?! Ne4 12.Bh4 f6 Nfe4.
13.Nxe4? dxe4 14.Bc4 Bd5 with an 15.Bc2 Nfe4 16.g4 f6.
overwhelming strategic advantage.
13.Qh3 does not change our plan –
It is clear that White should take control
13...Nd6 14.Bh4 Nfe4 15.Bxe7 Qxe7
of e4:
16.Rd1 f6 17.Nef3 c4 18.Bc2 b5 19.Rb1
11.Qb1 brings better practical results, Rab8 20.0-0 a5 21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Nd2 f5³.
but you can see in the annotations to Game
17 Sandipan-Kryvoruchko, rapid, Dubai 13...Nd6 14.g5 Nfe4 15.0-0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
2014, that Black has at least two good plans 9r+-wq-trk+0
against it – 11...Ng6 and 11...g6!?.
9zpl+-vlpzpp0
11.Qc2 suffers from the obvious 9-zp-snp+-+0
drawback of taking the c2-square. 9+-zppsN-zP-0
Andreikin-Karjakin, Baku 2015, saw 9-+-zPnzP-+0
11...c4 12.Be2 Nf5 (12...b5!? was more 9+-zPLzPQ+-0
straightforward, intending to meet 13.Bh4
by 13...Ne4) 13.Bf2 Be7 14.Ng4 Nxg4
9PzP-sN-vL-zP0
15.Bxg4 Nd6, and White was lucky to save 9+-mKR+-+R0
the game. xiiiiiiiiy
11.Qe2 is aimless as 11...Ne4 blocks e4 15...cxd4!
and threatens ...f6. Sedlak only mentions:
11...Nf5 15...c4
11...Ne8, intending ...f6, has a “major”
drawback – White could force a draw after 16.Bc2(?) 16...b5 “and Black was much
12.Bf2 cxd4 13.exd4 f6 14.Bxh7+ Kxh7 faster n the queenside, Karjakin-Adams,
15.Qh3+ Kg8 16.Qxe6+=. Wijk aan Zee 2016.”
Indeed, 17.Qh3 b4 18.Nxe4 dxe4
12.Bf2 Be7 13.g4 19.Be1 Bd5 20.Rg1 b3 21.axb3 cxb3
13.0-0 is safer for both sides. We can opt 22.Bb1 f5 was clearly better, but White
for a queenside advance: 13...Nd6 14.Qh3 should not lose a tempo on 16.Bc2.
Correct is:
14.Rad1 c4 15.Bc2 Nfe4 16.Qh3 Qc8
17.g4 f6 18.Nef3 b5; 16.Bxe4! dxe4 17.Qg4! b5
14.Bh4 Nfe4. 17...Bd5 18.h4 f6 is risky – 19.gxf6
14...c4 Bxf6 20.h5 Nf5 21.Rdg1 Qc7 22.h6∞.
18.h4 b4 19.h5 a5 20.Nb1 Nf5
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 17.Nb3 Nc4
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+l+-vlpzpp0 17...a5 18.Nc5 b4 19.Nxb7 Nxb7
9-+-+p+-+0 20.c4.
9zp-+-sNnzPP0 18.Rhg1 Qc7 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.dxc5
9-zppzPpzPQ+0 Nxe5 21.fxe5 Qxe5 22.Bxe4 dxe4 23.Qg3,
9+-zP-zP-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-+-vL-+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9+NmKR+-+R0 9zpl+-+pzpp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+p+-+0
White obtains sufficient counterplay here
9+pzP-wq-zP-0
with 21.g6 fxg6 22.h6! Qe8 23.hxg7 Kxg7 9-+-+p+-+0
24.Rh2 Rg8 25.Rdh1 h6 9+-zP-+-wQ-0
9PzP-+-vL-zP0
25...Rh8 26.Qg1 Bd5 27.Nxg6 hxg6 9+-mKR+-tR-0
28.Rxh8 Qxh8 29.Rxh8 Rxh8=.
xiiiiiiiiy
26.Rg1 Kh7 27.Qh3 Bf6 28.Ng4 Bg7
29.Bh4 Rf8 30.Ne5 Bxe5 31.fxe5 h5 but “it” does not “feel” that the endgame
32.Bg5 Bd5 33.Qg2 Rb8 34.Qe2 Rh8 after 23...Qxg3 24.Bxg3 Bd5 25.Bd6 f5!
35.Bf6 Rg8 36.a3. Neither side could make 26.Bxf8 Rxf8 is highly unpleasant for
progress from here. White.
e “ exible” 15...b5 may seem clever, Perhaps the most stubborn defence is:
but 16.dxc5! Nxc5 17.Bxh7+! Kxh7 18.e4!!
17.Qe2!? (preparing to take on e4)
removes the defender of e6 and enables a
17...b4
perpetual check after 18...Ncxe4 19.Nxe4
Nxe4 20.g6+! Kg8 21.Qh3 fxg6 22.Qxe6+ 17...a5 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Bxb5 is
Kh7 23.Qxg6+. unclear.
16.exd4 b5 18.cxb4 a5 19.b5 a4 20.a3 Qb6
Black owns the initiative.
9...Nf5
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 15.0-0 Bb7=.
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zp-+-snpzpp0 b) 11.Ne5 enables the queen manoeuvre
9-+-vlpsn-+0 Qd1-f3-h3. Our position has no
9+p+p+-+-0 weaknesses and it could withstand a direct
attack, but I’d prefer to open quickly a
9-+pzP-+-+0 second front on the queenside with:
9+-zP-zPNvL-0
9PzPLsN-zPPzP0 11...b4
9tR-+QmK-+R0 is trades pawns and equalizes. e
xiiiiiiiiy slower 11...a5 is more ambitious,
is position is virtually untested so it is intending 12.0-0 Qc7 13.b3 Bb7.
difficult to select a main line. White has a Perhaps critical is 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4
rich choice. Let’s consider the most logical dxe4 14.Bxe4 Ra7
options: XIIIIIIIIY
9-+lwq-trk+0
a) 11.e4 9tr-+-snpzpp0
is move is the main idea behind the 9-+-vlp+-+0
manoeuvre Bf1-b5-d3, but here it is not 9zpp+-sN-+-0
too effective because White cannot 9-+pzPL+-+0
eliminate completely the central pawns – 9+-zP-+-vL-0
11...dxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 Rb8 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
14.Qe2
9tR-+QmK-+R0
The mundane 14.Bxh7? Kxh7 15.Ng5+ xiiiiiiiiy
fails to 15...Kg6.
15.a4 f5 16.Bc2 Bxe5 17.Bxe5 b4=.
14.0-0 is also innocuous – 14...Bb7
(14...f5!? 15.Bc2 Bb7, followed up by 12.cxb4 Bxb4 13.0-0 Ba6 14.Nb1.
...Bd5, is also a sturdy construction.) Chances are even, as 14...c3?! 15.bxc3 Bxf1
15.Bxb7 Rxb7 16.Bxd6 Qxd6=. 16.cxb4 could be only in White’s favour
due to the closed centre.
14...h6
c) 11.Ng5!? intends to push 12.e4 and
A simple prophylactic move. 14...Bb7 recapture by knight.
allows 15.Ng5 h6 16.Bxb7 hxg5 17.Be4
Nd5 and White could further unbalance 11...Rb8 12.e4 dxe4 13.Ngxe4 Nxe4
the position with h4. 14.Nxe4 Bxg3 15.hxg3 f5 16.Nc5 Qd5
14...f5 15.Bc2 Ng6∞ is also a bit too 17.Qf3² is obviously unattractive, so:
provocative. 11...h6 12.e4! appears to be critical.
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 18.Rfc1
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zp-+-snpzp-0 18.axb5 axb5 19.b3 cxb3 20.Nxb3 Bb7
9-+-vlpsn-zp0 21.Nbc5 (21.Bd3 N7f6 22.Rfb1 Nxe4
9+p+p+-sN-0 23.Qxe4 Nf6 24.Qe1 Qd5 25.Bf1 Bc6
26.Nc5 Ra8=) 21...Nxc5 22.Nxc5 Nf6
9-+pzPP+-+0 23.Rfb1 Qd5=.
9+-zP-+-vL-0
9PzPLsN-zPPzP0 18...Qc7 19.axb5 axb5 20.b3 f5 21.bxc4
bxc4 22.Ng5 N7f6 23.Nxe6 Nxc3 24.Qe3
9tR-+QmK-+R0 Bxe6 25.Qxe6+ Kh8=.
xiiiiiiiiy
d) 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Ne5 Nd7 13.f4
White’s cunning design is to mate us if f6∞.
we choose 12...hxg5? 13.e5 Ne8 14.h4
g4 15.Qxg4!! and Black is helpless e) 11.Bh4 Ng6 12.Bxf6 (12.Bxg6 hxg6
despite having an extra piece – 15...Bc7 13.0-0 a5) 12...gxf6 13.h4 (13.a3 Kh8)
(15...f5 16.Qh5‚) 16.Nf3 Nf5 17.Qh5 13...b4 14.cxb4 Bxb4 15.a3 Ba5 16.Kf1
Nh6 18.a3 Qd7 19.Bf4 f5 20.Qg6 Qf7 Ba6 17.Kg1 Rb8„.
21.h5 Qxg6 22.hxg6‚.
A22. 8...Qe7!? 9.Bxc6
12...Nf5 13.Nxf7! Rxf7 14.e5 b4 After 9.0-0 Black could safely take on g3
15.exd6 is positionally better for White. – 9...Bxg3 10.hxg3 Bd7=.
Perhaps best is:
9...bxc6 10.Qa4
12...Bxg3 13.hxg3 dxe4 14.Ngxe4 Ned5 XIIIIIIIIY
15.Qe2 Rb8 16.0-0 Nd7 17.a4 a6 9r+l+-trk+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9zp-+-wqpzpp0
9-trlwq-trk+0 9-+pvlpsn-+0
9+-+n+pzp-0 9+-zpp+-+-0
9p+-+p+-zp0 9Q+-zP-+-+0
9+p+n+-+-0 9+-zP-zPNvL-0
9P+pzPN+-+0 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
9+-zP-+-zP-0 9tR-+-mK-+R0
9-zPLsNQzPP+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9tR-+-+RmK-0
10...Bxg3!
xiiiiiiiiy 10...cxd4 allows the intermediate
White owns the initiative, but we should 11.Bxd6.
be able to gradually neutralise it by
counter-attacking c3:
It is essential that Black avoid the pin Perhaps White should answer 15.Qd1 a4
along the a3-f8 diagonal. e recent game 16.Ne5 Nd7 17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.Nb1 Rfb8
Gajewski-B.Socko, rapid, Zgierz 2017, saw 19.Rc5 Bc4 20.Nd2, when simplest is
10...Rb8 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Qa3 Rb5?! 20...Rxb2=.
(12...Nd7 13.0-0 e5 is more critical)
13.Nb3 Ne4 14.dxc5, winning a pawn. 13.Qc2
e only way to ght for the advantage is
11.hxg3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Rab8!? to allow ...Ba6.
is is a bit more aggressive than
12...a5!? 13.0-0 Ba6 14.Rfc1 Bb5 13.0-0 Rxb2 14.Rfb1 Rxb1+ 15.Rxb1
XIIIIIIIIY Qc7 16.Ne5 c5 17.Qc6 Qxc6 18.Nxc6
Bd7 19.Nxa7?! c4 was promising for Black
9r+-+-trk+0 in Raznikov-Li Ruifeng, Dallas 2016.
9+-+-wqpzpp0 Better is 19.Ne7+! Kh8 20.dxc5 Re8 21.c6
9-+p+psn-+0 Re7 22.Rb7! Kg8 23.cxd7=.
9zpl+p+-+-0
9Q+-zP-+-+0 13.b3 Rb6 (threatening ...Ra6) 14.Qa5
Ba6 15.Ne5 Rc8 and 13.Nb3 Rb6 are also
9+-+-zPNzP-0 ne for Black.
9PzP-sN-zPP+0
9tR-tR-+-mK-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-trl+-trk+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zp-+-wqpzpp0
Black seals the queenside and his 9-+p+psn-+0
defensive line from a4 to c6 looks 9+-+p+-+-0
unassailable. At the same time the b5-
bishop is more than a “big pawn” as its role
9-+-zP-+-+0
could become important if Black opened 9+-+-zPNzP-0
the e- le with ...e5. e game Le Roux- 9PzPQsN-zPP+0
Bellahcene, Chartres 2017, went: 9tR-+-mK-+R0
15.Qc2 a4 16.Ne5 Rfc8 17.Qc5 Qd8
xiiiiiiiiy
18.Rc3
13...Ba6
18.b4!? Ne8 19.a3 Nd6 20.Qc2 f6 13...Qb4!? 14.Qb3 Nd7 equalizes
21.Nef3=. immediately – 15.Qxb4 Rxb4 16.b3 Rb6
17.Rc1 a5 18.0-0 Ba6 19.Rfe1 Rc8 20.Rc3
18...Ne8 19.Rac1 f6 20.Nd3 Nd6 c5.
21.Nf4 Qd7 22.f3 Re8 23.Nd3 Nf5
24.Nf1 e5μ. e text aims to face White with more
complex tasks.
14.a3 h6
XIIIIIIIIY
You could certainly try 14...c5 15.dxc5 9-trr+-+k+0
e5 in a rapid game. White cannot castle 9+-+-wqpzpn0
short, the centre is uid – all this for a mere 9l+-+p+-zp0
pawn. Yet, White may be somewhat better. 9+-sNpsN-zP-0
For instance: 16.b4 Rfe8 17.Nb3 d4
9P+-zP-zP-+0
18.Na5 (18.0-0-0 is another option that
needs analysis.) 18...dxe3 19.Nc6 Qb7
9+p+-zP-+-0
20.Nxb8 exf2+ 21.Qxf2 Qe4+ 22.Kd1 9-+Q+-+P+0
Rxb8 23.Kc1 Bd3 24.Rh4 Qf5² with sharp 9tR-+-mK-+R0
play. xiiiiiiiiy
15.b4 Rfc8 16.Ne5 Bb5 17.g4 23.Qd2 (23.Qc3 f6) 23...Rxc5„.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trr+-+k+0 B. 7...b6! 8.Bd3
9zp-+-wqpzp-0 8.Ne5 Bb7 9.Bd3 Nc6 transposes to line
9-+p+psn-zp0 A14.
9+l+psN-+-0 e new trend, however, is 8.Ne5 Bb7
9-zP-zP-+P+0 9.Bb5.
9zP-+-zP-+-0
9-+QsN-zPP+0 e only reason behind it is to provoke
9...a6 10.Bd3. is way White hampers a
9tR-+-mK-+R0 future plan with ...Qc8, ...Ba6. However,
xiiiiiiiiy Black can also play in the centre. e game
Black has sufficient counterplay thanks to Agrest-Roberson, chess.com 2017, saw
the break ...a5. For instance: further:
17...a5 18.g5 hxg5 19.Ndf3 Ne4 10...Nc6 11.f4 Ne7 12.Qb1 g6 13.Bf2
20.Nd2 Nf6 is a draw by repetition. cxd4 14.exd4 Nf5 15.0-0 Be7 16.Qc2 Nd6
17.Bh4 Nfe4 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Rae1 b5
A bolder try is: 20.Nb3
17...Nh7 18.f4 a5
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY In Gupta-Borisek, chess.com 2017,
9r+-+-trk+0 Black closed the centre with 10...c4 and
9+l+-wqp+p0 White practically presented a tempo by
9p+-snp+p+0 retreating the bishop in advance:
9+p+psN-+-0 11.Ba4?! (11.0-0) 11...Ne4 12.Bc2 f5
9-+-zPnzP-+0 (12...b5 13.Qg4 Nd7 14.Qh3 f5
15.Ndf3 Ndf6 16.0-0 a5³) 13.Bxe4 (on
9+NzPL+-+-0 13.Nxe4 we recapture 13...dxe4)
9PzPQ+-+PzP0 13...fxe4 14.Qg4 Qe7 (14...Bc8 15.h4
9+-+-tRRmK-0 Nc6 16.h5 h6 17.Bh4 b5 18.a3 Nxe5
xiiiiiiiiy 19.fxe5 Be7÷) 15.Bh4 Qe8 16.0-0
Nd7 with complex play. Gupta decided
It is obvious that until Black holds e4, he to open a second front on the queenside
would not be running serious risks. with 17.b3, but Black has the bishop
Roberson chose here 20...Rac8 (20...Rfc8=) pair and should welcome any
21.Qe2 Rfe8 22.Ra1 f6 with at least equal imbalances – 17...cxb3 18.axb3 a5.
play – 23.Nf3 Nc4 24.a3 Rc7
11.Bh4 Ne4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.0-0
Or 24...Qc7 25.Rae1 Re7.
is balanced position occurred in
25.Kh1 Kg7 26.Rab1 Qd6 27.Nfd2 Andreikin-Zhou Weiqi, China 2016.
Nexd2 28.Nxd2 e5 29.Bxc4 dxc4 30.dxe5 Black chose here the consistent move
fxe5 31.Nf3 Bxf3 32.Rxf3 e4 33.Rff1 Qe6 13...f6 14.Qg4 Rae8 15.Nc4 a6
34.Rbd1 e3³. 16.Nxd6 Qxd6 17.dxc5 Qxc5 18.Ba4
b5=, but we should always resort
Although 9...a6 is possible, I prefer: reluctantly to pawn moves near our
king. It is better to improve the knight:
9...Qc7 10.f4
XIIIIIIIIY 13...Ne7
9rsn-+-trk+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zplwq-+pzpp0 9r+-+-trk+0
9-zp-vlpsn-+0 9zplwq-snpzpp0
9+LzppsN-+-0 9-zp-vlp+-+0
9-+-zP-zP-+0 9+Lzp-sN-+-0
9+-zP-zP-vL-0 9-+-zPpzP-vL0
9PzP-sN-+PzP0 9+-zP-zP-+-0
9tR-+QmK-+R0 9PzP-+-+PzP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...Nc6
14.Bxe7 (14.Qg4 Nf5 15.Qh3 a6 In both lines we should expect further
16.Be2 b5 17.Ng4 f6μ) 14...Qxe7 15.dxc5 exchanges and even chances.
(15.Nc4 Bb8) 15...Bxc5 16.Qe2 Qc7
17.Nd7 a6 18.Nxc5 Qxc5=. 9.Ne5
It is useless to try 9.Qe2 in view of
8.a4 is aimed against 8...Ba6 when 9...Ne4 10.Bxd6 Qxd6, when 11.Bxe4?!
White has 9.Bb5. We can answer 8...Nc6 dxe4 12.Ng5 f5 13.Nc4 Qe7 14.Qh5 h6
9.Bb5 Bb7 or 9...Ne7 10.Bd3 Bb7 15.Nh3 cxd4 16.exd4, Romanov-
11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Ne5 Ne4 13.a5 Nxd2 Gagunashvili, Gjakova 2016, would be
14.Qxd2 f6 15.Nf3 e5 16.dxe5 fxe5 17.e4 clearly in Black’s favour after 16...Nc6μ,
Kh8∞. intending ...e5 or ...Ba6.
XIIIIIIIIY
16.Bh2!
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+l+-+k+0
9-+lwq-trk+0 9tr-+-+rsnp0
9tr-+-vlp+p0 9-+nvLpwqp+0
9-+n+p+p+0 9zpp+p+-+-0
9zpp+pzP-+n0 9-+pzP-zPP+0
9-+pzP-+-zP0 9zP-zP-+-+-0
9zP-zP-+N+-0 9-zPLsNQ+K+0
9-zPLsNQzPPvL0 9tR-+-+R+-0
9tR-+-+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
22...e5!
16...Bxh4 A nice shot. Black takes over the
It was safer to seek counterplay with initiative.
16...f5 17.exf6 Bxf6 18.Qe3 Ng7 19.Qh6
Nh5 20.Rae1 Bg7. 23.dxe5 Qh4 24.f5 gxf5
24...Nxf5! 25.e6 Nxd6! 26.exf7+ Kf8
17.g4 would win the g4-pawn. en even the
is is a bit hasty. 17.Nxh4 Qxh4 endgame would be in Black’s favour.
18.Nf3 Qg4 19.Qe3 was stronger. Black
will be unable to keep the knight on h5 25.Rh1 Qd8 26.Qe3 d4 27.cxd4 Ne8
anyway, e.g. 19...f5 20.exf6 Rxf6 21.Ne5 After 27...Bb7 White should avoid the
Nxe5 22.Bxe5 Rf8 23.f3 Qh4 24.Qh6 Qe7 trap 28.d5 Nd4!! 29.Qxd4 Ne6„. Correct
25.g4. is 28.Kf2!! Ne7 29.Bxe7 Qxe7 30.Rh6²,
maintaining the grip.
17...Ng7 18.Nxh4 Qxh4 19.Kg2 f5 XIIIIIIIIY
20.exf6 Qxf6 21.Bd6 9-+lwqn+k+0
White should have staked on piece play –
21.Nf3!, threatening to smother the
9tr-+-+r+p0
opponent. Black would have to return the 9-+nvL-+-+0
pawn in order to activate his bishop – 9zpp+-zPp+-0
21...e5 22.Nxe5 Nxe5 23.Bxe5 Qg5 9-+pzP-+P+0
24.f3=. 9zP-+-wQ-+-0
21...Rff7 22.f4?!
9-zPLsN-+K+0
White could have partly repaired the 9tR-+-+-+R0
damage with 22.Qe3, but he had a xiiiiiiiiy
(wrong!) plan...
28.Rh6?
28.Bc5! or 28.d5 kept a big advantage.
XIIIIIIIIY
28...Rg7 29.Rg1 Rad7? (why not Kryvoruchko,rapid, Dubai 2014. Black
29...Rxg4+?!) 30.d5? (30.Kf1+–) 30...Ne7 should not be afraid of 11.Bh4 Ng6
31.Bxe7 Rdxe7 32.Qd4 Bb7? (11...Qc7 is also good) 12.Bxf6
Black stubbornly avoids taking on g4 and
the game ends in a draw. Or 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.f4 cxd4 14.cxd4
Qd7.
33.Kf2 Qxd5 34.Qxd5+ Bxd5 35.Bxf5
12...gxf6 13.Nxg6 hxg6 since 14.Bxg6
Rxe5 36.Re1 Rxe1 37.Kxe1 b4 38.axb4
fxg6 15.Qxg6+ Kh8 is a perpetual. Besides,
axb4 39.Be6+ Bxe6 40.Rxe6 Nc7 ½-½
he could play on with 12...Qxf6!
16. Skoberne – Halkias XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
Baku ol 10.09.2016 9zpl+-+pzpp0
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 d5 4.e3 Bd6 9-zp-vlpwqn+0
5.Bg3 0-0 6.Nbd2 c5 7.c3 b6 8.Qb1 Bb7 9+-zppsN-+-0
9.Bd3 Nc6 10.Ne5
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zP-+-+0
9r+-wq-trk+0 9+-zPLzP-+-0
9zpl+-+pzpp0 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
9-zpnvlpsn-+0 9tRQ+-mK-+R0
9+-zppsN-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-zP-+-+0 13.f4 (13.Nd7 Qg5ƒ) 13...cxd4 14.cxd4
9+-zPLzP-vL-0 Bxe5 15.dxe5 Qh4+ 16.g3 Qh3 17.Bf1
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 Qh6 18.Bd3 d4 19.Be4 dxe3 20.Nf3 Bxe4
21.Qxe4 Qh3 22.0-0-0 Ne7=.
9tRQ+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy 11.f4 g6 12.0-0
is is a good sign that we are in
10...Qc7 command. After the short castling Black is
e diagram position is of crucial safer, but 12.Bf2 Ne8 13.h4 was simply
importance for our set-up. White wants to bad due to 13...cxd4 14.exd4 f6 15.Nxc6
provoke weaknesses in our king’s position Bxc6 16.h5 g5! 17.fxg5 e5! 18.Be2 e4. is
and then advance the f- and g-pawn. line shows that delaying the manoeuvre
Knowing that, it looks super uous to force ...Nc6-e7 has its own pluses – the queen
f4 by 10...Qc7. e game course shows that protected h7!
the queen development is not bad – it
controls the seventh rank against possible 12...Ne7 13.Bh4
sacri ces, but it is not strictly necessary for
the moment. 10...Ne7 might be a slightly
improved version – see Game 17 Sandipan-
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 16.Rh3 fxe5 17.dxe5 Bxe5
9r+-+-trk+0
9zplwq-snp+p0 Do not be greedy! 17...Bc7?? fails
9-zp-vlpsnp+0 spectacularly to:
9+-zppsN-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zP-zP-vL0 9r+-+ntrk+0
9+-zPLzP-+-0 9zplvl-wq-+p0
9PzP-sN-+PzP0 9-zp-+p+p+0
9tRQ+-+RmK-0 9+-zppzP-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-zPLzP-+R0
13...Ne8 9PzP-sN-+PzP0
is was the idea of 11...g6 – to defend 9tRQ+-+-mK-0
h7 in order to enable the knight retreat. xiiiiiiiiy
en all will be ready for ...f6 and Black’s
defensive line would be practically 18.Bxg6! hxg6 19.Qxg6+ Ng7 20.Nf3
unassailable. Strong GM Motylev chose and Black is helpless despite his two
instead 13...Kg7, but it does not look like a extra pieces, e.g. 20...Rf5 21.Ng5 Rxg5
long-term solution. White could carry on 22.fxg5 Rf8 23.Qh7+ Kf7 24.Rf1+ Ke8
his attack with 14.Rf3. 25.Rxf8+ Qxf8 26.Rf3 Qe7 27.Qg8+
14.g4 Kd7 28.g6+–.
White still nurtures some hopes for an 18.fxe5 Nc7 19.Qe1
attack, but they are not too realistic. A XIIIIIIIIY
correspondence game featured 14.Ng4?! f6
15.h3 h5! 16.Ne5 cxd4 17.cxd4 g5μ and
9r+-+-trk+0
Black went on to win. 9zplsn-wq-+p0
9-zp-+p+p+0
A more positional decision was to part 9+-zppzP-+-0
with the bad bishop and maintain the
balance by piece manoeuvring:
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zPLzP-+R0
14.Bxe7 Qxe7 9PzP-sN-+PzP0
9tR-+-wQ-mK-0
Another solid stand is 14...Bxe7 15.Rf3
Nd6 16.Rh3 f5 17.g4 Bf6=.
xiiiiiiiiy
15.Rf3 f6 Chances are even here because Black has
enough counterplay down the f- le. For
Naturally, Black could always seal off instance:
the centre with 15...f5=.
19...Ba6 20.Bc2 Rf7 21.Qg3 Raf8 opposite wing. Yet, 17...cxd4!? 18.Nxd4
22.Re1= (22.Nf3 d4!μ). Black could try (18.cxd4 Nb4) 18...fxg5! 19.Bxg5 e5 was
here 22...d4 23.c4 d3!? or 22...Rf2!?, but more enterprising. White’s naked king
the threat on g6 should be sufficient for a would demand unfaltering defence.
draw in both events, e.g. 23.Bxg6 hxg6
24.Qxg6+ Qg7 25.Qxg7+ Kxg7 26.Rg3+=. 18.Qf2 c4 19.Be2 b5 20.Bg3 b4?!
Not the best way of conducting the
14...f6 15.Nef3 Ng7 16.Qe1 Nc6 17.g5 advance. White could now take on b4 and
Gholami-Krush, Doha 2015, saw prepare b3. 20...a5 preserved more tension
17.Bg3, when Black hastily opted for – 21.Rfc1! Bc8 (21...b4 22.b3) 22.Qf1
17...e5 18.fxe5 fxe5. e most such a break Bd7.
could achieve is equality, as all the white XIIIIIIIIY
pieces are in the centre and well prepared to 9r+-+-trk+0
meet it, e.g. 19.e4=. On the other hand,
Black’s set-up is more exible – such is the 9+-wql+-snp0
nature of the Stonewall. He could keep on 9-+nvlp+p+0
improving his position with 17...Rae8, 9zpp+p+pzP-0
preserving all his options open. For 9-+pzP-zP-+0
instance, he could gain more space on the 9+-zP-zPNvL-0
queenside. It is unclear what White could
oppose in his turn.
9PzP-sNL+-zP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-tR-+QmK-0
9r+-+-trk+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zplwq-+-snp0 At some point Black could try ...b4,
9-zpnvlpzpp+0 ...a4-a3.
9+-zpp+-zP-0 21.Ne5?
9-+-zP-zP-vL0 A grave positional mistake. It is not
9+-zPLzPN+-0 important that White plugs the hole on e5.
9PzP-sN-+-zP0 e big fault of his position will transpire
9tR-+-wQRmK-0 when he tries to defend the queenside
pawns. He should have never left two
xiiiiiiiiy targets – on a2 and c3. Correct was 21.cxb4
Bxb4 22.Rfc1.
17...f5
I cannot blame this normal human 21...bxc3 22.bxc3 Nxe5 23.fxe5 Ba3
decision to put safety rst against a decent, 24.Rfb1 Bc6 25.Nf3 Qa5 26.Qe1 Rfb8
equally rated opponent. From this moment 27.Qd2 Rb6 28.Rxb6 Qxb6 29.Be1 Rb8
on, it is a one way road. Black is not risking 30.Qc2 Qb2 31.Qxb2 Bxb2 32.Rb1 Ba4
anything on the kingside, while White still
has to withstand a pawn storm on the
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 38.Rc2?
9-tr-+-+k+0 e last moves look in uenced by time
9zp-+-+-snp0 trouble. 38.Rd1 was a must.
9-+-+p+p+0
9+-+pzPpzP-0 38...Nb5 39.Nd2 Ra1 40.Nf3 Kf7 41.h4
a6 42.Bd2 Rb1 43.Be1 Ke8 44.Kf2 a5
9l+pzP-+-+0 45.Nd2 Ra1 46.Nf3 Kf7 47.Ke2 a4
9+-zP-zPN+-0 48.Kf2 Ke7 49.Ke2 Ke8 50.Kf2 Kd7
9Pvl-+L+-zP0 51.Ke2 Kc6 52.Kf2 Rb1 53.Nd2 Ra1
9+R+-vL-mK-0 54.Nf3 Bc1 55.Bd2 Bxd2 56.Nxd2 a3
xiiiiiiiiy (56...Nxc3!–+; 56...Na3–+) 57.Nf3 Kd7
(57...Nxc3!–+) 58.Ne1 Nc7 59.Ke2 Na8
White cannot prevent the penetration of 60.Kd2 Nb6 61.Rc1 Rxa2+ 62.Nc2 Rb2
Black’s rook. e game should have nished 63.Ra1 a2 64.Kc1 Na4 65.Nb4 Rb1+
quickly was not for Halkias’ mistake 3
66.Rxb1 axb1Q+ 67.Kxb1 Nxc3+
moves later:
68.Kc2 Ne4 69.Na2 Kc6 70.Nc1 Ng3
33.Bd1 Bxd1 34.Rxd1 Ba3 35.Kf2 Ne8?! 71.Kd2 Kb5 72.Na2 Ka5 73.Nc3 Kb4
35...Rb2+! 36.Rd2 Rb1 37.Ke2 Ra1 74.Kc2 Ka5 75.Kd2 Ne4+ 76.Nxe4 fxe4
38.Rc2 a5 39.Ng1 a4 puts White in near 77.Kc3 Ka4 78.Kb2 Kb4 79.Kc2 c3
zugzwang. e coup-de-grace will come 80.Kc1 Kb3 81.Kb1 c2+ 82.Kc1 Kc3
from the kingside after ...Nh5, ...f4, and 83.h5 Kd3 0-1
the g5-pawn will be doomed to fall.
17. Sandipan – Kryvoruchko
In his turn, White misses the defence
36.Bd2 Rb2 37.Ra1 after which Black rapid Dubai 16.06.2014
should start working hard all over again.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.c3
36.Ke2 Nc7 37.Rd2 Rb1 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Bd6 7.Bg3 0-0 8.Bd3 b6
XIIIIIIIIY 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.f4 Ne7 11.Qb1
9-+-+-+k+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zp-sn-+-+p0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9-+-+p+p+0 9zpl+-snpzpp0
9+-+pzPpzP-0 9-zp-vlpsn-+0
9-+pzP-+-+0 9+-zppsN-+-0
9vl-zP-zPN+-0 9-+-zP-zP-+0
9P+-tRK+-zP0 9+-zPLzP-vL-0
9+r+-vL-+-0 9PzP-sN-+PzP0
xiiiiiiiiy 9tRQ+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Ng6 is is provocative, indeed, but it is the
I chose to annotate this game because it most challenging option.
presents an entirely different approach, 12...cxd4 13.exd4 Nh5 is safer as it
compared to the previous game. I would forces 14.g3. en Black has a tempo
not say it is superior to ...g6, but by some
for 14...f6 15.Nef3 Qc8 16.0-0 Ba6
reason it brings Black better results. Perhaps
17.Re1 Ng7=, Grischuk-Wang, Beijing
White is unprepared against it.
2014. However, the exchange on d4
11...g6!? is more popular. White could deprives Black of his main plan – a
castle or attempt to mount an attack: pawn storm on the queenside with ...c4
and ...b5.
a) 12.0-0 Nh5!? 12...Ne8 is at least risky as it does not
stop the march of the h-pawn – 13.h4
12...Qc7 13.Bh4 transposes to Game
f6 14.h5!.
16 Skoberne-Halkias.
Vocaturo chose 12...Nd7. It prepares
e standard plan is 12...Nf5 13.Bf2
...f6 more effectively than 12...Ne8 as
Be7 having in mind to meet 14.g4 by
13.h4 f6 14.h5? fails to 14...fxe5 15.fxe5
14...Nd6 or 14.b4 by 14...Qc7 15.a4=.
Bxe5, while 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.h5 is
It offers Black a comfortable game, but I
unclear after 15...cxd4 16.cxd4 e5 or
believe it would be difficult to win
15...Kg7!. However, 13.Bb5 could force
without removing the knight from e5 by
a repetition after 13...Nf6 14.Bd3.
...f6.
13.Bf2 f6 14.Nef3 Nc6!? 13.g4 Ng7
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpl+-+-snp0 9zpl+-snpsnp0
9-zpnvlpzpp+0 9-zp-vlp+p+0
9+-zpp+-+-0 9+-zppsN-+-0
9-+-zP-zPP+0 9-+-zP-zPP+0
9+-zPLzPN+-0 9+-zPLzP-+-0
9PzP-sN-vL-zP0 9PzP-sN-vL-zP0
9tRQ+-+RmK-0 9tRQ+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
is position is very similar to the Now after 14.0-0 or 14.Nef3, Black will
previous annotated game. repel the knight from e5 and will take the
defensive stand from the above-mentioned
b) 12.Bf2 Nh5!? game Grischuk-Wang, but he will still
possess an active plan, based on ...c4, ...b5.
14.g5 is awful as it boxes in the dark- 12...a5! – preparing ...Ba6 or ...c4, followed
squared bishop – 14...cxd4 15.exd4 Bxe5 by ...b5-b4.
16.fxe5 Nc6 17.Nf3 Nb4.
e blitz game Kamsky-Dreev, Khanty-
e only consistent continuation of Mansiysk 2013, took on a different
White’s previous play would be 14.h4?!, but course. Black decided to open the c- le
White is so behind in development that we with 12...Nh5?! and Kamsky obliged –
could strike back with 14...f6 15.h5 13.Be1. (Actually, ...Nxg3 was not a
(15.Nef3 cxd4 16.cxd4 e5!) 15...fxe5 threat since 13.Ndf3 Nxg3 14.hxg3
16.fxe5 Bxe5 17.dxe5 c4 18.Bf1 d4–+. would be in White’s favour.) 13...cxd4
14.exd4 Nf6 15.a3 Rc8 16.h3 Qc7?!
Finally, the game Romanov-Fraczek, Black has achieved his idea, to discover
ICCF 2013, demonstrates that Black could that he has no way to penetrate through
even aim to break through White’s the c- le. On the contrary, White’s
stronghold at e5: 11...cxd4 12.exd4 g6 attack would be unpleasant after
13.Bf2 Ne8 14.Ndf3 Ng7 15.Be3 f6 17.Ng4!.
16.Ng4 Qc7 17.Qc1 Rae8 18.0-0 Ngf5
19.Bd2 h5 20.Nf2 Kg7 21.g3 Nc6 13.a4 Qc7
22.Qd1 13...Ba6 allows 14.Bxa6 Rxa6 15.f5 so
XIIIIIIIIY Black takes e5 under control.
9-+-+rtr-+0 14.Re1 Ba6=.
9zplwq-+-mk-0
9-zpnvlpzpp+0 12...hxg6 13.Bh4
9+-+p+n+p0 We should meet 13.0-0 the same way as
on the previous turn – 13...a5 14.Bh4 Qc7
9-+-zP-zP-+0 15.a4 Ba6 (or 15...Rfb8 rst).
9+-zPL+NzP-0
9PzP-vL-sN-zP0 13...cxd4 14.cxd4
XIIIIIIIIY
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9r+-wq-trk+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9zpl+-+pzp-0
22...Bc8 23.Rc1 e5ƒ. 9-zp-vlpsnp+0
9+-+p+-+-0
12.Nxg6?! 9-+-zP-zP-vL0
e hasty 12.h4 is well parried by
12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Bb4 14.h5 Nxe5 15.fxe5
9+-+LzP-+-0
Ne4 16.Bxe4 Bxd2+ 17.Kxd2 dxe4 18.h6 9PzP-sN-+PzP0
Qg5ƒ. 9tRQ+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12.0-0! looks innocuous, but it offers us
to reveal our plan. One logical option is
14...Bb4 23...Qc4 24.g3 Rc8 (24...b5!) 25.a3? Bd2
It is tempting to drag the enemy king to 26.Qxc4 Bxe3+ 27.Kg2 Rxc4 28.Rd1
the centre, but this line could lead just to a Rc2+ 29.Kh3 Rf2 30.Nh4 g5 0-1
draw after 15.a3 Bxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Ne4+
17.Bxe4 Qxh4 18.g3 Qh3 19.Bd3 Qg2+ 18. Sedlak – So
20.Be2 Ba6 21.Qf1=.
Baku ol. 06.09.2016
14...Qd7! 15.Qd1 Bc6 16.Qe2 Ne4
retained more tension. 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6
5.Nbd2 e6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bg3 0-0 8.Bd3 b6
15.Qd1 Qd7 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.0-0 Bc6 9.Qe2 Bb7 10.Rd1 Re8 11.e4 Be7 12.e5
18.Nf3 Bb5 19.Rc1 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 Rfc8 Nh5 13.a3 g6
XIIIIIIIIY Sedlak assigns a “?!” mark to 10...Re8 in
9r+r+-+k+0 his book, but he does not consider 13...g6
9zp-+q+p+-0 at al. It is all the more interesting to watch
9-zp-+pzpp+0 his reaction to this typical plan of Black.
9+-+p+-+-0
14.Nf1 f5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Ne3
9-vl-zP-zP-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+QzPN+-0 9r+-wqr+k+0
9PzP-+-+PzP0 9zpl+-+-+p0
9+-tR-+RmK-0 9-zpn+pvlp+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-zpp+-+n0
9-+-zP-+-+0
21.Qa6?! 9zP-zPLsNNvL-0
e position is equal and White could 9-zP-+QzPPzP0
prove it by trading all the rooks with
21.Qb1! Bd6 22.Rxc8+ Rxc8 23.Rc1.
9+-+RmK-+R0
Instead, he makes an awful “active” move xiiiiiiiiy
which could have faced him with
difficulties after 21...b5! 22.Kf2 Rab8. 16...e5
White could only hope to return his queen e most straightforward continuation.
back to safety. Alternatively:
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 30.b3 h5 31.d6
9-+-+-tr-+0 If White maintained a passive stand, e.g.
9zpl+-+-mk-0 31.Qe1, cutting off the b7-bishop and
9-+-zP-+p+0 protecting his own one with the b3-pawn,
9+-+-+-+-0 he would lose after 31...h4 32.gxh4 Qf4
9-+Lwq-+-zp0 33.h5 Qg3 34.hxg6 Rf6 35.Kh1 Bxf2 and
there is no perpetual check. Black could
9zPP+-vl-zP-0 even improve this idea by bringing his king
9-+-+QtRP+0 into the attack: 31...Kh6! 32.Qe2 Kg5!
9+-+-+RmK-0 33.Qe1 Kg4
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
1.gxh4 Qe4 2.Kh2 Qxh4+ 3.Kg1 Qg3 9-+-+-tr-+0
threatening Qxg2#! 9zpl+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+p+0
e computer needs depths of 40-50
half-moves to reach the verdict: White is
9+-+P+-+p0
doomed! Over the board, things remain 9-+Lwq-+k+0
very complicated. For instance, 30.d6! Bc6 9zPP+-vl-zP-0
31.b4 h5? allows White to escape after 9-+-+-tRP+0
32.b5 Bb7 33.d7 h4 34.Kh1 hxg3 35.Rf7+ 9+-+-wQRmK-0
Kh6 (35...Rxf7 36.Rxf7+ Kh6 37.d8=Q! xiiiiiiiiy
controls h4!) 36.R1f4!=. In this line the c4-
bishop helped in the defence by ensuring A spectacular activity of the king!
the check from f7. e computer discovers
the decoy combination 31...a6!!. Zugzwang! 31...h4 32.Kh1 Rxf2 33.Rxf2 hxg3
34.Rf7+ Kh6 0-1
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-tr-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-mkp0 9zpl+-+R+-0
9p+lzP-+p+0 9-+-zP-+pmk0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-zPLwq-+-+0 9-+Lwq-+-+0
9zP-+-vl-zP-0 9zPP+-vl-zp-0
9-+-+QtRP+0 9-+-+Q+P+0
9+-+-+RmK-0 9+-+-+-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Now 32.Bxa6 h5 is already winning and e pawn is still on d6 (compare with
32.Qe1 drops a piece after 32...Bxf2+. the line 30.d6! where it quickly reached
d7!) so the mate from h4 is unavoidable!
19. Kamsky – Nakamura ere is no reason to provoke ...f6 with
8.Bg5 f6 9.Be3 (9.Bh4 Be7) 9...Bd6 10.g3
Saint Louis 01.04.2017
10.Bb5 0-0 11.0-0 a6 (or 11...Bd7
is game discusses the latest trend 12.Re1 Qe8÷) 12.Ba4 Bd7 13.Ne1
against the London System – the plan with Nf4 14.g3, Karjakin-Nakamura, Blitz
...Nh5. In my opinion it has no advantages Stavanger 2017, 14...Ng6÷.
over the queen’s anchetto, but it certainly
deserves attention as a backup line. 10...0-0 11.Bd3
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.c3 11.Bg2?! f5 12.Ne5 f4ƒ, Giri-So,
We could meet 5.Nbd2 by 5...Nc6 (or London 2016.
5...Qb6 6.Rb1) since 6.Bb5 Qb6 (6...Bd7?! 11...Qe8 12.Nh4 g6 (12...g5?! 13.Ng2)
7.0-0 a6 8.Be2!) 7.a4 a6 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.a5 13.0-0.
Qb7 is not a problem.
8...Bd6 9.Ne5 g6 10.g4
5...Nc6 6.Nbd2 cxd4 e critical line, but this game suggests
Another version of the same plan is that it is only balanced. Naiditsch chose
6...Nh5 7.Bg5 f6 when White lacks the against Kravtsiv in Sharjah 2017 the less
retreat to e3. On the other hand, he committing 10.Ndf3!? Qc7 11.Be2 0-0
controls the f4-square and could meet 12.Bh6 Re8
8.Bh4 cxd4 by 9.cxd4÷. e super-speedy XIIIIIIIIY
blitz game Giri-So, chess.com 2017, saw
instead: 8...g6 (8...Bd6 9.Ne5 g6 10.Be2)
9r+l+r+k+0
9.Bd3 cxd4 10.cxd4 Be7 11.0-0 with long 9zppwq-+p+p0
manoeuvring ahead. 9-+nvlp+pvL0
9+-+psN-+n0
7.exd4 Nh5 9-+-zP-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0 9+-zP-+N+-0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9-+n+p+-+0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
9+-+p+-+n0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-zP-vL-+0 Here instead of sacri cing a pawn with
9+-zP-+N+-0 13.Ng5 Bxe5, White should have done it
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 with 13.0-0! Nxe5?! 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.dxe5
9tR-+QmKL+R0 Qxe5 16.Re1 Bd7 17.Bg4 (17.Bxh5 Qxh5
xiiiiiiiiy 18.Qxh5 gxh5 19.Re3 h4) 17...Qd6
18.Bxh5 gxh5 19.Qxh5². Of course, taking
8.Be3 on e5 is not obligatory, and 13...f6 would
lead to a passive, but sound position.
We see that the hit on e5 does not bring could offer a pawn:
dividends, so it would be better to meet
10...0-0!?, when 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Qxc6
10.Ndf3 by 10...0-0!, intending to push would be risky as Black will open the centre
...e5.
with 12...Rb8 13.Rb1 e5.
e game Zavortink-So, chess.com
10...Ng7 11.h4
2017, went 11.Be2?! f6 12.Nxc6 XIIIIIIIIY
(12.Ng4 Bf4) 12...bxc6 13.Qd2 e5³. 9r+lwqk+-tr0
More testing is: 9zpp+-+psnp0
11.Bh6 Re8 12.Bb5 Qb6 13.Qe2 9-+nvlp+p+0
13.Qd3 a6 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.0-0 a5
9+-+psN-+-0
16.Rfe1=.
9-+-zP-+PzP0
9+-zP-vL-+-0
13...f6 14.g4 Ng7
9PzP-sN-zP-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9r+l+r+k+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zpp+-+-snp0
9-wqnvlpzppvL0 11...Nxe5
9+L+psN-+-0 11...h5 12.Bg5 Qb6! 13.Bf6 Rg8
9-+-zP-+P+0 14.Rb1
9+-zP-+N+-0 White failed to prove enough
9PzP-+QzP-zP0 compensation after 14.Qf3 Bxe5
9tR-+-mK-+R0 15.dxe5 hxg4 16.Qxg4 Nh5 17.0-0-0
xiiiiiiiiy Qxf2 18.Bg5 Qg3 19.Qa4 Bd7 20.Bb5
Qxe5 21.Bxc6?. White had to put his
15.h4! is looks scary, but 15...Rf8! rooks on f1 and e1 and it is unclear how
16.h5 fxe5 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 Bxe5 Black could improve his position.
19.Qxe5 Qxf2+ 20.Kd1 Qf6 evens the
chances – 21.Qxf6 Rxf6 22.Bg5 Rf7 14...Nxe5 15.dxe5 Bc5 16.Qe2 hxg4
23.hxg6 hxg6 24.Bd3 e5 25.Bxg6 Bxg4+ 17.Nb3 Be7 18.Bxe7 Kxe7 19.Qxg4 Bd7
26.Kc2 Rf2+ 27.Kb3 Bf5 28.Bxf5 Nxf5 20.Qg5+ Kf8 is holding, too. White’s
pieces are more active, but his king does
29.Bf6 Re8 30.Rh8+ Kf7 31.Rxe8 Kxe8
not have a shelter: 21.h5 Nxh5 22.Be2
32.Bxe5=.
(22.Nd4 Qd8=) 22...Bb5 23.Bxh5 gxh5
10.Qa4 occurred in Alekseev-Matlakov, 24.Qxh5 Bc4=, or 21.Bd3 Bb5 22.Bxg6=.
Sochi 2017.
12.dxe5 Bxe5 13.Nf3 Bf6 14.h5 0-0
en 10...Qc7 11.Be2 Ng7 12.Nxc6 15.Qd2
bxc6 was roughly equal. However, Black
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 18...dxc3 19.gxf7+ Kxf7 20.Bc4+ Be6
9r+lwq-trk+0 21.Bxe6+ Nxe6 22.Qc2, Lie-Arvola,
9zpp+-+psnp0 Stavanger 2017, when 22...Qb6 23.b3 Bg7
9-+-+pvlp+0 is close to winning.
9+-+p+-+P0
16...b6 17.hxg6 fxg6 18.Ne5 Bb7 19.Rh3
9-+-+-+P+0 Rc8 20.Be2 Bg2 21.Rg3 Bd5
9+-zP-vLN+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzP-wQ-zP-+0 9-+rwq-trk+0
9tR-+-mKL+R0 9zp-+-+-snp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zp-+pvlp+0
9+-+lsN-+-0
15...d4! 9-+-zP-+P+0
is move turns the tide and now White 9+-+-vL-tR-0
should be accurate. Kamsky is up to this
task.
9PzP-wQLzP-+0
9tR-+-mK-+-0
16.cxd4 xiiiiiiiiy
A later game saw 16.Bxd4 e5 17.hxg6?
exd4 18.0-0-0 22.Rh3! Bg2 23.Rg3 Be4 24.Rc1 Qd6
XIIIIIIIIY 25.a3 Rxc1+ 26.Qxc1 Bxe5 27.dxe5 Qxe5
9r+lwq-trk+0 28.Qd2 Bd5 29.Bd4 Qe4 30.f3 Qf4 ½-½
9zpp+-+psnp0
9-+-+-vlP+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-zp-+P+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
9PzP-wQ-zP-+0
9+-mKR+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Chapter 6. 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5
Main Ideas
In this chapter I will discuss systems with the tactical trick ...Bf5, you would be in for
...Bf5 or ...Bg4, focusing on the move a nasty surprise: 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 Nc6 4.c3!?
order: Qb6 5.Qb3 c4 6.Qc2 Bf5? 7.Qxf5! Qxb2
8.Qxd5 Qxa1 9.Qb5±.
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5
It is fashionable to call it e Accelerated e diagram position has been reached in
London System, in contrast with the hundreds, even thousands of games. I must
“Classical” London with 2.Nf3. I devote a admit, I also played it as White in 2013,
special chapter on the intricacies of the even though it was just a blitz game. I
latter move order. consider it in detail in line B. My
conclusion is that after 8.Qc1, 8...Nh5
e idea of delaying the knight 9.Bg3 is roughly equal. My suggestion is to
development is to avoid the famous line go for 8...e6 and save ...h6. Our desired set-
2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6 up is: 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.Be2 0-0 11.h3
6.Qb3 c4 7.Qc2 Bf5,
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+-trk+0
9r+-+kvl-tr0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9zpp+-zppzpp0 9-wqn+psn-+0
9-wqn+-sn-+0 9+-+p+l+-0
9+-+p+l+-0 9-+pzP-vL-+0
9-+pzP-vL-+0 9+-zP-zPN+P0
9+-zP-zPN+-0 9PzP-sNLzPP+0
9PzPQ+-zPPzP0 9tR-wQ-mK-+R0
9tRN+-mKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
11...Rfc8!, aiming for ...Qd8, ...Bd6
when White should retreat ingloriously ...b5. While our plan of a pawn storm is
to c1. e same position could arise after well outlined, White’s play is much more
2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.c3. obscure. My attempt against Artemiev to
attack the centre with b3 was dubious, as
Note that the inclusion of Nf3 Nf6 is a
...cxb3 highlighted the awkward placement
must. If you are too hasty to demonstrate
of the queen at c1. Whenever White plays
Nh4, for example on move 10, we answer
XIIIIIIIIY
10.Nh4 Be4 11.f3? 9r+lwqkvlntr0
9zpp+-zppzpp0
Toth-Csirik 9-+n+-+-+0
Hungary 2008 9+-zpp+-+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9r+-+k+-tr0 9+-+-zP-+-0
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9-wqn+psn-+0 9tRN+QmKLsNR0
9+-+p+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+pzPlvL-sN0 A lot of players favour 2...Nf6 3.e3 c5,
9+-zP-zPP+-0 but I think that it is important to lead rst
9PzP-sN-+PzP0 our queen’s knight. at eliminates a
number of tricky lines with Nc3 and other
9tR-wQ-mKL+R0 tactical attempts.
xiiiiiiiiy
4.c3
11...Bd3! 12.Bxd3 cxd3μ. Do not 4.Nc3 hides no venom here in view of
misunderstand me – we are better here not
4...cxd4 5.exd4 Bf5, taking the sting of
because of the pawn on d3, but because the
Nb5 in view of ...Rc8.
h4-knight is hanging. at was the reason
to provoke f3 – to ban its retreat to f3. 4...Nf6 5.Nd2
Black often plays ...Bd3 in various different Until we have not played ...Bf5, we
settings, but I do not recommend it in could still shift to variations from Chapter
general. e computer as a rule evaluates 5, e.g. 5.Nf3 e6.
positions with a pawn on d3 and a knight
on f3 as 0.00, but in practice the 5...Bf5
overextended pawn is a nuisance, as it needs Some players prefer the simple 5...cxd4
constant attention and protection. 6.exd4 Bf5, arguing that the exchange
transforms the opening into a timid side
Let’s now return to the “accelerated”
line of the Caro Kann. I agree that Black
move order:
has no problems there, but my task
2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 Nc6 throughout the book is not just to show
you how to even the chances. I have tried to
offer rst-rate schemes with a good
potential to play them for a win. Whenever
possible, I prefer to preserve the c5-pawn in
order to have the active plan with ...c4 in
reserve.
XIIIIIIIIY
6.Qb3 Key points
Or 6.Ngf3 e6 7.Qb3 Qc8! In most lines we’ll have a choice –
whether to play ...Qb6 or not. I tried to
6...Qd7! formulate a rule: we go there only if we can
XIIIIIIIIY
meet Qb3 by ...c4 and ...Bf5. e
9r+-+kvl-tr0 following diagrams show what to avoid:
9zpp+qzppzpp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+n+-sn-+0 9r+l+kvl-tr0
9+-zpp+l+-0 9zpp+-zpp+p0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-wqn+-snp+0
9+QzP-zP-+-0 9+-zpp+-+-0
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9tR-+-mKLsNR0 9+QzP-zP-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
Please note that against the Accelerated 9tR-+-mKLsNR0
London I never consider ...Qb6. We defend xiiiiiiiiy
the b7-pawn by either ...Qd7 or ...Qc8 (if
White’s knight is already on f3). is 7.Qxb6! axb6 8.Bc7 Nd7 9.Bb5. Black
approach preserves more tension. is tied with the defence of b6.
6.Qb3
XIIIIIIIIY
6.Ngf3 e6 brings about another
XIIIIIIIIY
important position. 9r+-+kvl-tr0
9+-+-+pzpp0
6...Qb6 could be met by 7.Nh4! (7.Qb3 9pwqp+psn-+0
c4 8.Qxb6 axb6³; 7.dxc5 Qxb2 8.Nd4 9+-zpp+l+-0
Bg4) 7...Bd7 8.Qb3 c4 9.Qc2 Nh5
10.Bg3.
9Q+-zP-vL-+0
9+-zP-zPN+-0
7.Qb3 9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
7.Qa4 Nd7 8.Bb5 is well met by the 9tR-+-mK-+R0
natural 8...Rc8! when 9.Bxc6 Rxc6 xiiiiiiiiy
10.Qxa7 is dubious in view of 10...Bd3
and White’s king remains in the centre. 10.c4 Be7 (10...Bd3 11.dxc5) 11.dxc5
erefore, he should castle, when 9.0-0 Bxc5 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.0-0 0-0 14.Be5
a6 is at least equal. Black could even sac (14.Nb3 Bb4 15.Nbd4 Be4 16.a3 Bxf3
a pawn with 9...Be7 10.Rfe1 0-0 17.Nxf3 Nxf4=) 14...Bg6 15.Rfc1 Rfd8
(10...a6) 11.Bxc6 Rxc6 12.Qxa7 g5 16.Bd4 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 c5=.
13.Bg3 g4, trying to shift the focus of
7...Qc8!
the game to the kingside. However,
14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.dxe5! (15.Bxe5 cxd4 I do not like 7...Qb6 because of the dull
16.exd4 Bg5 17.Nb3 f6 18.Bg3 Qc8 endgame arising after 8.Qxb6 axb6
19.f3 gxf3 20.gxf3 Kh8‚) looks safe 9.Bb5 Nd7 10.h3! (10.Ne5 only trades
enough. e computer nds only a draw another piece) 10...Be7 11.g4 Bc2 12.0-
after 15...Qa8 16.Qxa8 Rxa8 17.e4 dxe4 0 White’s pieces are more active, and he
18.Bf4 Rb6 19.Nc4 Rba6 20.a3 b5. could open the centre at an opportunity.
7.Bb5!? is the better way of pinning the XIIIIIIIIY
knight. en 7...Nd7 (hoping for 8.Qa4 9r+q+kvl-tr0
Rc8), could be met by 8.0-0, followed 9zpp+-+pzpp0
by Re1, e3-e4. erefore, Black should 9-+n+psn-+0
employ another defence: 7...Qb6! 8.Qa4 9+-zpp+l+-0
a6 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 with a balanced game,
for instance:
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+QzP-zPN+-0
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
White can now open the centre or
advance on the kingside. Important
continuations are:
XIIIIIIIIY
a) 8.Bb5 a6 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.h3 Be7 16.Kd1 Nxa1 17.exf5 Rd8 18.Kc1 exf5
11.0-0 0-0=. 19.Be5².
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY e other retreats allow Black to gain
9r+l+kvl-tr0 space: 9.Be5 f6 10.Bg3 e5 11.Be2
9zppwq-zp-zpp0 (11.Nbd2 0-0-0 12.Be2 exd4 13.Nxd4
9-+n+-zp-+0 Nxd4 14.cxd4 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Kb8³)
9+-+p+-+n0 11...0-0-0 (or 11...Nxg3 12.hxg3 exd4
9-zP-vL-+-+0 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.cxd4 Bb4+³, Ider-
9+QzP-zPN+-0 Wagner, Chartres 2017) 12.Nbd2
exd4³;
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9tRN+-mKL+R0 9.Bg5 f6 (9...h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3
Nxg3 12.hxg3 Bg7 13.Nbd2 Rc8
xiiiiiiiiy 14.Be2 0-0³) 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 e5
11...e5! 12.Qxd5 exd4 13.Qxh5+ g6 12.dxe5 Nxg3 13.hxg3 Nxe5³.
14.Qh4 dxe3 15.fxe3 Bf5 16.Bb5 0-0-0 9...Nxg3 10.hxg3
with an active bishop pair.
XIIIIIIIIY
6...c4 7.Qc2 9r+-+kvl-tr0
7.Qxb6?! axb6 is perfect for Black if Bb5 9zpp+-zppzpp0
is impossible – 8.a3 b5 9.Nbd2 b4 or 9-wqn+-+-+0
8.Na3 Na7 9.Be2 Bf5 10.Nh4 Bd7. 9+-+p+l+-0
7...Bf5! 8.Qc1 9-+pzP-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-zP-zPNzP-0
9r+-+kvl-tr0 9PzP-+-zPP+0
9zpp+-zppzpp0 9tRNwQ-mKL+R0
9-wqn+-sn-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+p+l+-0
9-+pzP-vL-+0 10...h6 11.Nbd2 e6 12.Be2 Be7
9+-zP-zPN+-0 13.Bd1=.
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.Be2
9tRNwQ-mKL+R0 10.Nh4 does not achieve to kill the
xiiiiiiiiy bishop, as 10...Be4 11.f3? Bd3 12.Bxd3
cxd3μ is awful for White. Young Kamsky
8...e6 chose 11.Be2 0-0 and acknowledged his
8...Nh5 is much less popular. Black kills mistake by going back – 12.Nhf3 Bg6=.
the enemy bishop, but the resulting
position is closed and roughly balanced: 10...0-0 11.h3
I played 11.b3?! against Artemiev in the
9.Bg3 World blitz championship 2013, but it only
offered Black an active plan on the
queenside after 11...cxb3 12.axb3 Rfc8,
XIIIIIIIIY
threatening ...Nb4. 9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+-vlpzp-0
11.0-0 Rfc8= will transpose to the main 9-wqn+p+lzp0
line, but 11...Nh5 is also an option – 9+-+p+-+-0
12.Be5 f6 13.Bg3 Nxg3 14.hxg3 Bg6!,
keeping the bishop pair. (Pakleza-Macieja,
9-+pzPnvLPzP0
Warsaw 2010, saw 14...Qc7?! 15.Nh4 b5? 9+-zP-zPN+-0
16.Nxf5 exf5, when 17.a4 a6 18.b3 would 9PzP-sNLzP-+0
have gained the initiative.) 9tR-wQ-mK-tR-0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9r+-+-trk+0 14...Qd8 15.g5 h5, but Black could also
9zpp+-vlpzpp0 launch a counter-attack with 14...e5!
9-wqn+psn-+0 15.dxe5 Nc5 16.g5 h5 17.Kf1 Rae8
9+-+p+l+-0 18.Kg2 Bd8, regaining the e5-pawn.
9-+pzP-vL-+0 12.0-0
9+-zP-zPN+P0 e acid test of Black’s set-ups without
9PzP-sNLzPP+0 ...h6 is 12.Nh4 Be4
9tR-wQ-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy 12...Bd3 13.Bxd3 cxd3 is too
committing. Although the computer
nds it equal, the d3-pawn would be a
11...Rfc8
cause of constant concern for us.
A standard regrouping of the major
pieces. Black’s plan is ...Qd8, followed up 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Nf3 Bd6=.
by ....b5.
12.g4 Bg6! 13.g5 is another principled
Another popular set-up involves try.
11...h6!?. It is mostly a matter of taste
whether to spend a tempo on this 13.Nh4 Be4 14.Nhf3 does not
prophylactic move. As I noted before, necessarily lead to a repetition. Black
12.b3 cxb3 13.axb3 Rfc8 is promising for can play on with 14...Qd8.
Black. e attempt for a direct attack with 13...Nh5!? (13...Ne4 14.h4 Bf5∞)
12.g4 Bg6 13.Rg1 Ne4 14.h4 should not 14.Bh2
disturb us as White’s pieces, and especially
his queen, are passive. A safe retort would
be:
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 13.Nh4 Be4 14.f3 Bd3³ leaves the h4-
9r+r+-+k+0 knight hanging.
9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-wqn+p+l+0 13...Bg6 14.Nh4 b5 15.Nxg6 hxg6
9+-+p+-zPn0 16.Bf3 b4 17.e4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+pzP-+-+0 9r+rwq-+k+0
9+-zP-zPN+P0 9zp-+-vlpzp-0
9PzP-sNLzP-vL0 9-+n+psnp+0
9tR-wQ-mK-+R0 9+-+p+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zppzPPvLP+0
14...f6! 15.Rg1 fxg5 16.Nxg5 Bxg5 9+-zP-+L+P0
17.Rxg5 Nf6„. 9PzP-sN-zP-+0
9tR-wQ-+RmK-0
12...Qd8 xiiiiiiiiy
is is consistent with our previous play,
but White’s timid last move encourages Both sides have realised their plans. It is
12...h6!?. We can no longer fear a pawn obvious that Black’s play is much more
storm against our king. See Game 22 Lazic- straightforward and effective. He could now
Nabaty, Belgrade 2015. It is a model thrust forward his a-pawn – 17...a5!,
example of Black’s plan in this pawn intending ...a4-a3. 17...dxe4 18.Nxe4 Nd5
structure. 19.Rd1 a5³ is also pleasant for him.
13.g4
13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 b5³ is a onesided
game.
Chapter 6. 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5
Annotated Games
e rst important decision in this game.
20. Sapis – Korneev It is connected with a pawn sac since
12.dxc5!? Bxc5?! 13.0-0-0 e5 14.Qb5²
Cappelle-la-Grande 01.03.2004 would be a little unpleasant. Fortunately,
we can delay recapturing the pawn with
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 Nc6 4.c3 Nf6 12...a5!
5.Nd2 Bf5 6.Ngf3 e6 7.Qb3 Qc8 8.Nh4
Be4!
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9r+q+k+-tr0
9r+q+kvl-tr0 9+p+-vlpzp-0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+n+psnp+0
9-+n+psn-+0 9zp-zPp+-+-0
9+-zpp+-+-0 9-+-+-vLP+0
9-+-zPlvL-sN0 9+QzP-zPP+-0
9+QzP-zP-+-0 9PzP-sN-+-zP0
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 9tR-+-mKL+R0
9tR-+-mKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
It is easy for White to fall under attack –
8...Bg6 is sound, but passive. By
13.Bb5 Nd7 14.0-0-0 a4 15.Qc2 Ra5
provoking f3, we create imbalances which
16.Bxc6 bxc6. He should stop the
we’ll try to exploit in future. Of course,
advance of our pawn, but then his
White might attempt to avoid f3 by 9.Bg5,
castling position will be a bit shaky:
but we’ll keep the tension with 9...Be7
10.Nxe4 (10.dxc5 0-0) 10...Nxe4 11.Bxe7 13.a4! Nd7 14.0-0-0 Nxc5 15.Qc2 Qd8
Nxe7 12.Bb5+ Nc6. Our aim here is to 16.Kb1 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Ne4 Qe7
gain more space with ...c4 so 13.Qc2 looks 19.Nxc5 Qxc5 20.Qf2 Na7 and the threat
logical. 13...a6 14.Bd3 f5 15.f3 Nf6 16.g4 of ...b5 offers enough counterplay –
c4 17.Be2 g5 18.Ng2 fxg4 19.fxg4 Qc7 21.Qd2 Rb8 22.e4 dxe4 23.Qd7+ Kf8
20.0-0-0 0-0-0÷. 24.fxe4 Nc6=. We have a nice square on e5
for our knight.
9.f3 Bg6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.g4 Be7
In the correspondence game Dos Reis- play the same 14...Bd6 and probably ...g5.
Bowyer, ICCF 2008, Black obtained a In this symmetrical structure we might not
decent position with the prophylactic need ...b5 at all.
11...Nd7 12.Bg3 a6 13.Bg2 Be7, but why
to remove a piece from the centre without a 13.Bg3 b5 14.a3?!
serious reason?! is apparently aims to prevent 14.0-0
c4 15.Qc2 b4, but the whole Black’s
12.Bg2 concept of closing the ank is wrong.
A strange move at rst sight – it is White would bust his fragile construction
unnatural to put a bishop behind its own with 16.b3 or 16.e4. Instead of 14...c4?!,
pawns. White’s choice betrays an intention Black should castle 14...0-0 and ght for
to keep the king on f2 or g1, and an extra the dark squares with ...g5 and ...e5 at an
piece around it would be reassuring. opportunity.
XIIIIIIIIY 14...Na5 15.Qd1 cxd4 16.exd4 Nc4
9r+q+k+-tr0 17.Nxc4 Qxc4?!
9zpp+-vlpzp-0 Why not 17...bxc4³ ?!
9-+n+psnp+0
9+-zpp+-+-0 18.Bf1 Qc6 19.Bd3 Bd6 20.Kf2 Ke7
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-zP-vLP+0 9r+-+-+-tr0
9+QzP-zPP+-0 9+-+-mkpzp-0
9PzP-sN-+LzP0 9p+qvlpsnp+0
9tR-+-mK-+R0 9+p+p+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-zP-+P+0
9zP-zPL+PvL-0
12...a6?!
Such a move would have made sense if
9-zP-+-mK-zP0
White’s bishop were still on f1 and could go 9tR-+Q+-+R0
to b5. e game shows that Black was xiiiiiiiiy
planning ...b5, but we do not need ...a6 in
order to push it. Another option was 20...Nd7 21.Qe2
Nb6 22.Kg2 Nc4 23.f4∞.
It was time to devise a plan. Black can
opt for ...c4, ...b5, but that would give e king move sets up the positional trap
White a free hand in the centre. Stronger is of xing the h2-pawn, which White could
...cxd4, followed by a minority attack with have prevented with 21.Kg2!.
...b5-b4. In all events he needs to exchange
the g3-bishop to gain access to b8. us his 21.Qe2? Rh3! 22.Rag1?
rst steps should be 12...Qd7 13.Bg3 cxd4 White should have assumed a passive,
14.exd4 Bd6. If White takes 14.cxd4, we but rm stand with 22.Rhg1.
22...Rah8 23.Rg2 Ne8?! White misses his chance and the game
It seems that Korneev does not trust his sets off for a draw.
technique too much, so he prefers to keep XIIIIIIIIY
the pressure with even material. 23...Bxg3+ 9-+-+-+-tr0
24.Rxg3 Rxh2+ was a clear pawn up. After
the text, White gets the chance to correct
9+-sn-mk-+-0
his mistake on move 22. 9-+q+pzpP+0
9+-+p+-+-0
24.Re1 Nc7?! 9-+-zP-+-+0
It was essential to stop f4 with 24...g5
25.Qd2 f6.
9+-zpL+-zPr0
9-zP-+QmKR+0
25.f4 a5 26.f5 Bxg3+ 27.hxg3
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-tR-+-0
9-+-+-+-tr0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sn-mkpzp-0 32.Qc2? R3h5 33.Qxc3 Qxc3 34.bxc3
9-+q+p+p+0 Rg5 35.g4 Kd6 36.Re3 e5 37.dxe5+ fxe5
9zpp+p+P+-0 38.Bf5 Ne6 39.Kg3 Nf4 40.Rh2 Rxh2
9-+-zP-+P+0 41.Kxh2 Nxg6 42.Bxg6 Rxg6 43.Kg3
9zP-zPL+-zPr0 Rg8 44.Kh4 Rh8+ 45.Kg5 e4 46.c4 Ke5
9-zP-+QmKR+0 47.cxd5 Rg8+ 48.Kh5 Kf4 49.Re1 Rg5+
50.Kh6 Rxg4 51.d6 Rg8 52.Rf1+ Ke3
9+-+-tR-+-0 53.d7 Ke2 54.Rf7 e3 55.Re7 Re8 56.Kg6
xiiiiiiiiy Kd2 ½-½
26...Ke7? 27.Rxb8 (27.Qc1+–) 27...Rxc2 8...e6 is the main line. As you’ll see
28.Rb7+ Nd7 29.gxf7 Rxd2 30.Bh4+ below, it is viable continuation, too. 9.0-0
Kf8 31.Rxd7 Be7 32.Bxe7+ Nxe7 33.g5
Kxf7 34.Ra7 Rc2 35.Ke1? (35.Rxa6+–) 9.Ne5 Bd7
35...Rxc3 36.Kd2 Ra3 37.Bh5+ g6 9...Be7 10.Ne5 Bd7
38.Bxg6+ Kxg6 39.Rxe7 Ra2+ 40.Kc3
Ra3+ 41.Kd2 Ra2+ 42.Ke1 Kf5= 43.Kf1 Black commonly refrains from
c3 44.Rc7 Rc2 45.g6 Kxg6 46.Ke1 Kf5 10...Qxc5 in view of 11.c4 0-0 12.Nb3.
47.Kd1 Rd2+ 48.Kc1 Rd3 49.Kc2 Rxe3 However, it turns out that he obtains
50.Rc6 Rf3 51.Rxa6 Ke4 52.Rxe6+ Kxd4 serious compensation for the exchange
53.a6 Rf2+ 54.Kb3 Rb2+ 55.Ka3 Rb1 after 12...Qa3 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bxc6
56.Rc6 Kd3 57.a7 Ra1+ 58.Kb3 d4 Ba6 15.Bxa8 Rxa8 16.Re1 dxc4 17.Nd4
59.Rc7 c2 60.Kb2 c1Q+ 61.Rxc1 Rxa7
62.Rh1 Rc7 63.f5 Rc2+ 64.Kb3 Rf2
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+k+0 9r+-+-trk+0
9zp-+-vlpzpp0 9zppvLlvlpzpp0
9l+-+psn-+0 9-+n+psn-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+LzPp+-+-0
9-+psN-vL-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9wq-+-zP-+-0 9+-wqNzP-+-0
9P+-+-zPPzP0 9P+PsN-zPPzP0
9+R+QtR-mK-0 9+R+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
e best move order now is 17...c3 (the 12...b6!
game Van Foreest-Brunner,Vaujany Two top level games saw the weak
2016, saw 17...Rc8 18.Be5 c3 but 12...Ne8?! 13.Rb3 Qf6 14.Bg3². e
18.Rb8 would have been slightly better text solves all the problems at once.
for White) 18.Be5 Rc8 19.Bxf6 gxf6
and White cannot avoid the elegant 13.Rb3 Qa5 14.c4 Rac8 15.cxd5 exd5
combination 20.Qc2 (or 20.h3 Bd3! 16.cxb6 axb6=, Indjic-Fridman, Warsaw
21.Qxd3 c2 22.Qxa3 cxb1Q 23.Rxb1 2017.
Bxa3=, although Böhme-Buettner, corr. 9.0-0
2013, went 20...f5 and soon ended in a XIIIIIIIIY
draw.) 20...Bd3!! 21.Qxd3 c2 22.Qxc2 9r+l+kvl-tr0
Rxc2 23.Nxc2 Qxa2=. It seems that 9zpp+-zpp+p0
10...Qxc5 is a sound alternative. 9-+n+-snp+0
11.Nd3 9+LzPp+-+-0
Or 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.e4 0-0 (12...a6
9-+-+-vL-+0
13.exd5 axb5 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.Ne4 Qc4 9+-wq-zPN+-0
16.Nd6+ Bxd6 17.Qxd6 Qxc5 18.Qc7 9P+PsN-zPPzP0
Qb6=) 13.exd5 exd5 14.Ne4 dxe4 9+R+Q+RmK-0
15.Qxd7 Bxc5 16.Qxb7 Rac8 17.Kh1 xiiiiiiiiy
Bb6=, Cornette-Feuerstack, chess.com
2017. 9...Bg7
11...0-0 12.Bc7 It is not a good idea to eat the pawn as
White will develop a strong initiative after
9...Qxc5?! 10.c4.
13...Qd8 14.Bf3
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+rwq-+k+0 9r+rwq-+k+0
9zp-+-+pzp-0 9+-+-+pzp-0
9-+-+pvl-zp0 9p+-+pvllzp0
9+p+p+-+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+pzP-+-+0 9PzPpzP-+-+0
9+-zPlzPL+P0 9+-+-zP-+P0
9PzP-sN-zPP+0 9-zP-sNLzPP+0
9tR-wQ-tR-mK-0 9tR-wQ-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
It transpires that White fails to eliminate
18.Be2?!
For better or worse, White had to push the queenside pawns, e.g. 21.Qc3 Be7
18.e4. It would open the e- le and create a 22.b3 Qb6 23.b5 axb5 24.axb5 Qxb5
target on d5. e game Archangelsky- 25.bxc4 Qb4!, and Black’s c-pawn is alive
Rublevsky, Aalborg 1993, went further and rushing forth.
18...b4 19.exd5 exd5 20.Nf1 bxc3 21.bxc3
19...a6 20.axb5 axb5 21.b4 Rxa1
Qa5 22.Ne3 Rd8 23.g3 Bg5 24.h4 Bxe3
22.Qxa1 Ra8 23.Qb2 Ra4 24.Ra1 Qa8
25.Rxe3 Rab8 26.Qd2=.
25.Rxa4
XIIIIIIIIY
18...Bg6 19.a4 9q+-+-+k+0
is clari es the reason behind White’s
19th move – he aims at blocking the
9+-+-+pzp-0
queenside with b4. However, it has two 9-+-+pvllzp0
aws: the resulting position is unpleasant 9+p+p+-+-0
for him, and, more importantly, Black 9RzPpzP-+-+0
could cut across this plan by 19...b4! 9+-zP-zP-+P0
20.cxb4 a6!!
9-wQ-sNLzPP+0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
25...Qxa4?
From a practical standpoint, in near-
fortress positions one should be eager to
unbalance them. 25...bxa4! 26.Qa3 Bc2,
with a further ...e5 in mind, not only
created a passer. It also immobilised the
white queen – Qb2? would lose on the spot
to ...a3. After the text, White could just
XIIIIIIIIY
move the king along the rst line. at Do not do this, even at home!
should earn him a draw. Instead, he
completely forgot any textbooks he might 30...e5! And the game is suddenly over.
have read, and opened the centre himself! 31.exd5 exd4 32.Ne4 dxc3 33.Qxc3 Bxe4
34.Bxe4 Qxb4 35.Qd4 Qc5 36.Qe5 h5
26.g3 Bc2 27.Kg2 g6 28.h4 Be7 29.Bf3?! 37.Qb8+ Kg7 38.Qe5+ Bf6 39.Qb8 b4
Bd3 30.e4?? 40.d6 Be5 41.Qc7 Bxd6 42.Qxc5 Bxc5
XIIIIIIIIY
43.Bd5 c3 44.Bb3 Kf6 45.Kf3 Kf5
9-+-+-+k+0 46.Ke2 Kg4 47.Bxf7 Kh3 48.Bxg6 b3
9+-+-vlp+-0 49.Bf7 c2 50.Kd2 Ba3 0-1
9-+-+p+pzp0
9+p+p+-+-0
9qzPpzPP+-zP0
9+-zPl+LzP-0
9-wQ-sN-zPK+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Chapter 7. e Classical London System
Main Ideas
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 is the older way of
XIIIIIIIIY
entering the London System. Lately 9r+lwqkvl-tr0
Carlsen, Karjakin and other top players 9zpp+-zppzpp0
prefer 2.Bf4, which is the subject of our 9-+n+-sn-+0
next chapter. I explained the reasons for the 9+-zpp+-+-0
decline of the Classical London that arises 9-+-zP-vL-+0
after 3.Bf4 in Chapter 6.
9+-sN-zPN+-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9zppzp-zppzpp0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-+-+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0 e inclusion of Nf3 Nf6 might be in
9-+-zP-vL-+0 White’s favour in some lines with Bb5,
when Black’s knight would stay better on
9+-+-+N+-0 e7.
9PzPP+PzPPzP0
9tRN+QmKL+R0 In the diagram position the best way to
xiiiiiiiiy take the sting of White’s set-up is to pin
and kill the f3-knight. Another link of our
e main argument against this move plan is to exchange on d4, obtaining a
order is the line 3...c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6. Carlsbad structure in which the c3-knight
would be on a wrong place. We could shape
Chapter 5 provided another way of all this in the following way:
exploiting the early knight development:
3...e6 4.e3 Bd6 5.Bg3 0-0 6.Nbd2 c5 7.c3 5...Bg4 (or 5...cxd4 rst) 6.Be2 e6 7.0-0
b6!? (instead of 7...Nc6) and White cannot Bxf3 8.Bxf3 cxd4 9.exd4 Bd6
push e4 at all.
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY e most challenging line now is
9r+-wqk+-tr0 6...axb4! 7.cxb4 b6 – see Game 24
9zpp+-+pzpp0 ompson-Matheis, ICCF 2007.
9-+nvlpsn-+0
If you prefer an easier life, you could
9+-+p+-+-0 regain the pawn with 6...b6. is way you
9-+-zP-vL-+0 avoid positions with two passed pawns on
9+-sN-+L+-0 the queenside, which are commonly
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 pleasant for Black, but the cost of mistakes
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 is higher.
xiiiiiiiiy eoretical status
Our natural plan in this structure is the It seems that e Classical London
minority attack with ...b5 and ...a5. System is unanimously assessed as
completely harmless by modern theory.
Another trendy approach after 2.Nf3 d5
First players try completely new ways of
is to discourage ...c5 by choosing the tricky
treating it. ey experiment with 3.c3 or an
move order 3.c3, having in mind 3...c5
4.dxc5 early Nc3, but this chapter shows that the
ball is still in White’s court.
e Agile London System generously gives
this move a “!”, but my analyses suggest that
White should play very accurately after it not
to become worse. 4...e6 5.b4 a5 6.e3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-+pzpp0
9-+-+psn-+0
9zp-zPp+-+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9+-zP-zPN+-0
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Chapter 7. e Classical London System
Step by Step
XIIIIIIIIY
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 9rsnq+kvl-tr0
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0 9zpp+-+pzpp0
9zppzp-zppzpp0 9-+-+psn-+0
9-+-+-sn-+0 9+-zpp+l+-0
9+-+p+-+-0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9-+-zP-+-+0 9+QzP-zPN+-0
9+-+-+N+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9PzPP+PzPPzP0 9tRN+-mKL+R0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
is far from clear, there have been no
candidates to test 7.Bxb8 Rxb8! 8.Bb5+
3.Bf4
Kd8!. I have won a similar position, but
A modern way to discourage systems
with ...c5 is to play rst 3.c3. with colours reversed (and the
corresponding extra tempo, of course).
en 3...g6 (Chapter 1) and 3...e6 I suspect that best is 7.c4∞ or 7.Nbd2.
(chapters 4-5), are decent options. e latter transposes to Chapter 6, line
3...Bf5 does not transpose to the main A – 6.Ngf3.
line since 4.Qb3 drags the black queen In conclusion, 3...Bf5 deserves serious
to c8. Although 4...Qc8 5.Bf4 e6 6.e3 attention and might be the most
c5 principled retort to the ultra-
sophisticated 3.c3.
e main idea behind 3.c3 is to meet:
3...c5 by 4.dxc5
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 4.b3 is often seen, but it only encourages
9rsnl+kvl-tr0 us to anchetto our bishop – 4...g6 5.Nf3
9zppwq-zppzpp0 Bg7 6.c3 0-0 7.Be2 d6.
9-+-zp-sn-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-zp-+-+-0 9rsnl+-trk+0
9P+NzP-vL-+0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9+-+-zP-+-0 9-wq-zp-snp+0
9-zPP+-zPPzP0 9+-zp-+-+-0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+PzP-zPN+-0
6...Be6! 9P+-+LzPPzP0
9tRN+QmK-+R0
In this structure White’s biggest threat is xiiiiiiiiy
to gain space with d5. For instance,
6...g6 7.d5! Bg7 8.Ne2 is better for We easily complete our development
him. with ...Nc6 and ...Bf5.
7.Nd2 cxd4 8.exd4 Bf5 9.Nc4 (9.c3 e5) 4...d6
9...Nc6 and Black will prepare ...e5. is might not be the best move, but we
do not have much of a choice if we want to
e bottom line is that White’s knight is
avoid a forced draw.
not any better on a3 than on c3. It would
need quite a few tempi before nding a e critical line is, of course, 4...Qxb2!
good place.
5.Nb5
Another version of the pawn sacri ce is
Grischuk tried 5.Nge2, but he would
4.Nf3!? Qxb2 5.Nbd2. It may be not any
need to prove his compensation after
worse than 4.Nc3, but is totally
5...Qa3 6.Rb1 d6 .
unexplored. A natural continuation is
5...e6. 5...Nd5 6.a3 (6.Rb1 is a draw.) 6...a6
7.Rb1 Qa2
5...Nc6 hampers the queen to return
home – 6.dxc5 (6.Rb1 Qxa2) 6...Qc3
7.Rb1 Qxc5 8.Bd3 d6 9.0-0∞.
6.Bd3 d5 (6...Qc3!?) 7.c4 cxd4 8.Nxd4
Bb4. White is ahead in development, but
I’m not sure if that compensates for the
missing pawn.
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+kvl-tr0 9rsnl+-trk+0
9+p+pzppzpp0 9zpp+-zppvlp0
9p+-+-+-+0 9-wq-zp-snp+0
9+Nzpn+-+-0 9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9zP-+-zP-+-0 9zP-sN-zPN+P0
9q+P+-zPPzP0 9-zPP+LzPP+0
9+R+QmKLsNR0 9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
e game Glienke-Rotstein, Bled 1997,
Now 8.Ra1= ends the game with a
repetition, so we should investigate: went further: 8...cxd4 9.exd4 Bf5 10.Rb1
Nc6 11.0-0=. e exchange on d4 is
8.Qc1 axb5 9.Ra1 Qxa1 10.Qxa1 Nc6 usually meant to discourage d4-d5, but in
11.Bb5!?. is rich position offers excellent the diagram position it is still not threat
chances to the better player, although in owing to the hanging b2-pawn. I prefer the
correspondence chess it is drawish. See Sicilian set-up:
Game 25 Prié-Argandona, San Sebastian
2011. 8...a6!? 9.0-0 Qc7 10.a4 cxd4 11.exd4
Nc6 12.Bg5 e6=, taking d5 under control.
5.Bb5+ 13.d5?! would be a mistake – 13...Nxd5
e check is undoubtedly the most 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.Qxd5 Bxb2 16.Rab1
testing continuation as it allows White to Be6 17.Qd2 Bg7 18.Rfd1 Rfe8 19.Qxd6
develop without spending tempi on Qxd6 20.Rxd6 Bf8 21.Rd2 Bb4³.
defending the b2-pawn.
5.Rb1 is a natural move. After 5...g6
5.a3 looks super uous, as White might
White commonly plays 6.h3 at once.
still have to protect the b2-pawn by Rb1
Another move order is 6.Nf3 Bg7 7.Be2
later. We could continue in the KI spirit:
cxd4 8.exd4 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.Re1 Qc7
5...g6 11.a4 Nc6
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY White could choose a piece attack with
9r+l+-trk+0 13.Bh6 Nbd7 14.Nh2 e5=, or gain space
9+pwq-zppvlp0 with 13.d5 Nbd7 14.Rfe1 Nc5 15.Rbd1,
9p+nzp-snp+0 when we should prepare ...e5 even at the
9+-+-+-+-0 cost of the d6-pawn – 15...Rad8 16.Bh6
9P+-zP-vL-+0 (16.Bf1 Rfe8 17.Kh1 e5 18.dxe6 Nxe6
19.Bxd6 Qc8 20.Qc1 Bxf3) 16...e5
9+-sN-+N+-0 17.dxe6 fxe6„.
9-zPP+LzPPzP0
9+R+QtR-mK-0 5...Nbd7
xiiiiiiiiy In the Moscow Variation of the Sicilian
we have the same dilemma – to trade or to
Now 12.d5 Nb4 13.Qd2 b6 is ne for keep the bishops. 5...Bd7 is much more
Black so White should probably resort popular than the text, but without the
to 12.h3, whe we could choose between light-squared bishop we would have less
12...Bf5 13.d5 Ne5 14.Nd2 Rab8 and active options in future. See Game 26 Prié-
12...b6 13.Qd2 Bb7 14.Bh6 Rac8 Kiril Georgiev, Aix les Bains 2011.
15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Nd1 e6.
6.a4 a6 7.a5 Qc7 8.Be2 cxd4
6...Bg7 7.Nf3 cxd4 8.exd4 0-0 9.Be2 It is possible to delay this exchange –
8...g6 9.Nf3 Bg7 10.0-0 cxd4 11.exd4 0-0
Or 9.Bd3?! Nc6 10.Be3 Nb4 11.Bc4 12.Qd2 b5 13.axb6 Nxb6 14.Bh6 Bb7
Bf5 12.Bb3 Qa6³, Harmon-Ehlvest, 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Rfc1 e5÷.
Oak Bridge 2000;
9.Bc4 Qc7 10.Qe2 a6 11.a4 Nc6 12.0- 9.exd4
XIIIIIIIIY
0 Bf5=. 9r+l+kvl-tr0
9...a6 10.0-0 Qc7 11.a4 b6 12.Qd2 Bb7 9+pwqnzppzpp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9p+-zp-sn-+0
9rsn-+-trk+0 9zP-+-+-+-0
9+lwq-zppvlp0 9-+-zP-vL-+0
9pzp-zp-snp+0 9+-sN-+-+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9-zPP+LzPPzP0
9P+-zP-vL-+0 9tR-+QmK-sNR0
9+-sN-+N+P0 xiiiiiiiiy
9-zPPwQLzPP+0
9...b5
9+R+-+RmK-0 is break is not urgent, but it is
xiiiiiiiiy indispensable in the long run. Without it,
Black will suffer on the queenside.
10.axb6 Nxb6 11.Nf3
11.Bg5 e6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.d5 e5
14.Nf3 f5 would offer Black the best of the
Sveshnikov.
6.e3 38
6.Ne5 39
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY 9.0-0 115
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zp-zp-+pzpp0 9.Qe2 116
9-zp-vlpsn-+0 9.Ne5 117
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0 8.Bb5 Ne7 123
9+-+LzP-vL-0
8...Qe7 126
9PzPPsN-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0 7...b6 128
xiiiiiiiiy
7.Ngf3 Bb7 83
Chapter 6. 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 145
8.Ne5 Ne4 9.Qh5 Nd7 10.f3 85
3.e3 (3.e4 148; 3.Nc3 148; 3.Nf3 149;
10.0-0-0 86 3.dxc5 149) 3...Nc6 149
10.Nxe4 86
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0
8.c3 87 9zpp+-zppzpp0
Chapter 5. 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6
9-+n+-+-+0
with ...c5 99 9+-zpp+-+-0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
4.Nd2 (4.Nf3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 cxd4 9+-+-zP-+-0
7.exd4 Nh5 141) 4...Bd6 5.Bg3 0-0 9PzPP+-zPPzP0
6.Ngf3 (6.Bd3 106) 6...c5 7.c3 107
9tRN+QmKLsNR0
XIIIIIIIIY xiiiiiiiiy
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 4.c3 (4.Nc3 – 3.Nc3) 4...Nf6 149
9-+-vlpsn-+0 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.c3 155 (5.Nbd2 Qb6 155;
9+-zpp+-+-0 5...Bg4 162)
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-zP-zPNvL-0
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0 Chapter 7. 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 (e
9tR-+QmKL+R0 Classical London System) 171
xiiiiiiiiy
3.c3 c5 (3...Bf5 175) 4.dxc5 175
7...Nc6 8.Bd3 b6 9.e4 108
3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 156
5.Nc3 175 4.Nc3 d6 (4...Qxb2!? 188) 5.Bb5+
Nbd7 186 (5...Bd7 190)
5.Be2 176