Jeroen Bosch

How to Out-Prepare Your Opponent

A Complete Guide to Successful Chess Opening Preparation

New In Chess 2022

Contents
Explanation of symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Foreword by Anish Giri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Chapter 1 Tactics in the opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Chapter 2 Move order and the art of interpolating moves . . . . . . . 32

Chapter 3 Novelty! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Chapter 4 Preparing for a specific opponent or situation . . . . . . . . 83

Chapter 5 Deep opening preparation (is 0.00 equal?) . . . . . . . . . . 118

Chapter 6 Gambits: love them or hate them . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Chapter 7 Surprise variations:

the benefit of playing your own systems . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

Chapter 8 Entering the main lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202

Chapter 9 Magnus Carlsen’s opening strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281

Chapter 10 FAQ: everything you always wanted to know

about the opening, but were afraid to ask . . . . . . . . . . . 357

Index of openings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405

Index of names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414

5
Foreword by Anish Giri
How to out-prepare your opponent is the question that is on the mind of
every chess player. For me personally, opening preparation is the aspect
of the game that stands central to how I perceive the entire struggle. Due
to my obsessive passion for chess openings I end up trying to rationally
justify the endless pursuit of opening knowledge, telling myself that if I
figure out the key to out-preparing my opponents, I will crack the enigma
code of the game as a whole.
My Dutch colleague Jeroen Bosch belongs to the same group of opening
aficionados and those familiar with his SOS-series (‘Secrets of Opening
Surprises’) will know that the author of this book is a very qualified
person on the mission to guide you and help you find your personal
answer to the question this book poses.
I got to know Jeroen Bosch a lot better as fate kept placing us on adjacent
seats on multiple flights towards international team events, where I would
represent the Dutch team and Jeroen would travel with us as a coach and
the head of our delegation. His vast knowledge of the game is impressive
and if not for his very friendly presentation, I would certainly feel quite
intimidated and somewhat embarrassed, not aware of the countless chess
tales and stories Jeroen had in store for me. I had that same feeling of mild
discomfort when I encountered the abundance of theoretical knowledge
in this book that was entirely new to me. It truly is amazing how rich our
game is, but only a person as knowledgeable as Jeroen that can fill a book
like this with thought-provoking opening ideas and inspirational lines that
can be of value for players of absolutely all levels.
While this meticulously structured book gradually equips you with tools
and methods to answer the question of how to outprepare your opponent,
in some way it is also a combination of opening articles and surveys,
material Jeroen has so much experience in creating. Every sample game or
cornerstone of a statement Jeroen makes is not just thoroughly annotated
in the opening phase. No; for example, if the game happened to feature the
tricky Veresov Attack, whether he wants it or not, the reader will be taken
on a journey through the ins and outs of the Veresov, with all the possible
deviations at the earliest stages, and some even at serious depth! 
I will not go too much into what you should expect from this book.
That is something you can find in Jeroen’s introduction. What I will do
instead is express my wish and conviction that my fellow readers will find
this book as gripping and as useful as I did.

Anish Giri, The Hague, May 2022

7
Introduction
[War was]... to most of the commanders at this time on both sides, very like a game
of chess. The gambits and defences of each were well known to all players of a certain
professional standing – Sir Winston Churchill, Marlborough: His Life and Times,
Volume I (p.268)

While the rules of our beloved game have stayed the same, chess in the
21st century radically differs from that in the decades and centuries that
came before. Acquiring chess knowledge was once a slow and painstaking
process. Only a limited group of strong players (from certain chess-loving
countries) could lay their hands on (partially) available information,
which they could process at the hands of experienced chess trainers.
These days, beginners, club players and grandmasters all have access to
the same information. Chess players around the world use the same data­
base program, can acquire the same information via books and the internet,
and, most important of all, have an assistant who analyzes and calculates
to perfection. By extension, each and every chess player can become quite
knowledgeable in the opening. And, yet, while concrete opening informa­
tion is in principle available to all, there are vast differences in the levels of
opening preparation. True, these are to some extent explained by playing
strength and by the time invested in opening preparation, but there is
another factor involved. Indeed, access to concrete opening information
(via a database program, the internet, specialized sources or a chess engine)
does not automatically lead to successful opening preparation. The skills to
use this information are at least as important as the actual knowledge.
I have written theoretical articles about opening variations for the past
25 years. These include well over a hundred opening Surveys for the now
defunct New In Chess Yearbook series, and more than a hundred articles
for my ‘Secrets of Opening Surprises’ column in New In Chess Magazine.
As the editor of the SOS book series (14 volumes between 2003-2012), I
have been in touch with many creative chess players about numerous
interesting opening ideas. The FIDE Trainers’ Commission kindly awarded
me the Isaac Boleslavsky award for 2012 for the SOS-series. As a trainer
and coach, it has always been my privilege to work with many players of
varying levels: all of them have taught me a lot about opening preparation!
In short, the study of opening variations is close to my heart, and I know a
thing or two about it.
In this book, I will share a lot of ‘technical information’ with you. Thus,
over a wide range of openings, I will present you with playable ideas,
my opinions about variations, and – although this is not intended as a

9
How to Out-Prepare Your Opponent

traditional opening book – with concrete variations. I would hazard to

guess that for many players the level of concrete information should be
enough to play the line under discussion with confidence, while for others
it could be a good starting point for their own research. However, even
though you can use this book as a source for concrete opening formation,
that is in the first instance not what this book is about!
How to Out-Prepare Your Opponent is in fact about the metalevel of chess
opening study. I think that many players make the mistake of plunging
right into the study of concrete lines and bypass a stage in which you should
be asking yourselves a number of questions. We will concern ourselves with
that ‘higher level’ of opening preparation. Should you study main lines
or sidelines? How do you map out your repertoire? What opening choices
should you make in a certain situation, or against a certain opponent? How
do you use an engine when studying openings? In what ways can you study
openings? What about gambits, novelties or tactics in the opening?
Some of these questions are almost of a philosophical nature, while
others are very practical and down-to-earth. I will raise the questions and
partly answer them for you, but I sincerely believe that the final answer is
always yours! I hope to raise your awareness and I intend to show you my
solutions and those of other players, but in the end you (dear reader!) are
the agent of your own opening success. My aim is to hand you the tools to
make an informed choice regarding your opening preparation. However,
please believe me that there is no single unique path that will always bring
you success in the opening. It always depends upon your chess level (and
that of your opponent), your knowledge and skills, the situation in which
you find yourself, and so on and so forth.
In this book you will find numerous examples of excellent opening play
by strong players. The most supreme case of this is Chapter 9, which deals
exclusively with the opening strategy of Magnus Carlsen. Carlsen is often
applauded for his endgame skills and his middlegame strategy, but in my
opinion he deserves equal praise for his level of opening preparation. It is
certainly a myth that the Norwegian plays the opening stage indifferently
and only employs his huge chess skills in the later stages of the game to
such tremendous success. Possibly, Carlsen doesn’t prepare his opening
variations to the same silicon precision as, say, Fabiano Caruana or Anish
Giri, but the World Champion is certainly a superior force when it comes
to the total package of Successful Chess Opening Preparation, as we will
see.
We teach by example, and we do so by showing what works and what
doesn’t work. For a book that intends to help you in making informed
choices about your opening preparation, it is also important to understand

10
 Introduction

the motivation behind many decisions concerning the choice of a

particular opening variation. With that in mind, I have used many of my
own games to illustrate the themes in this book. For other players, I can
sometimes guess their motivation to pick a certain line, but in my own
case I know what made me opt for a sideline in the Old Indian in one
game, and a solid Queen’s Gambit in another game. Some of my games will
be successful examples of opening preparation, but others will illustrate
typical mistakes in my mindset. Often these errors are made in that most
crucial stage: on the metalevel of opening preparation.
It is my sincere hope that you will find this book sufficiently inspiring
to read it from cover to cover. There is a certain logic in the order in
which I treat the themes in this book, and I will at times refer you back
to something we have discussed earlier. However, the order in which you
read this book is not set in stone. If you are leafing through the book and
see something that catches your eye, then by all means study that game
first! Likewise, if you look for your favourite opening in the register and
then turn to that page, I won’t be cross with you, but please remember that
I am developing an argument within every chapter. Note that some of the
most practical questions are raised in the final chapter.
Over the years, I received a lot of positive feedback from readers of
the SOS-series. When you are writing about ‘surprising’ chess opening
variations, you are mainly writing for club players, and they did indeed
respond warmly to many of these ‘secrets’. I am always grateful for these
comments, but in a way they were not surprising. These were my intended
readers! What struck me, though, was that many grandmasters responded
in similar terms. Strong and professional players also enjoy studying
offbeat lines to surprise their opponents.
In his deliberately provocative and highly inspiring Move First, Think
Later, Willy Hendriks argues against a traditional view (of chess trainers)
that you should only start to study the opening when you are a really
strong player (and have already mastered other areas). Hendriks is right,
especially if you extend the study of the opening beyond memorizing
lines (which he does), and he goes on to argue that ‘[f]or almost every
player, the best advice is to simply study what you like most’. In a personal
conversation with this author, Hendriks pointed out that opening study is
something a lot of players enjoy in its own right.
I hope that readers will find this book instructive as well as a source of
enjoyment.

Jeroen Bosch
Nijmegen, May 2022

11
CHAPTER 1

Tactics in the opening

Most chapters in this book are about ‘serious matters’: what move order to
employ, deep opening preparation, long-term plans connected to certain
opening structures, preparing for a specific opponent and so on. However,
we should never forget that chess is a very concrete game! One of the
most dangerous situations arises when you lull yourself into thinking that
getting a few pieces out is all you have to do at the beginning of the game
and that you can start thinking concretely when the middlegame arises.
It becomes even more dangerous when you think you are playing theory
(but you have misremembered your lines). By convincing yourself that
you are playing well-tested moves, you lose your critical faculties to your
detriment. That is the first ‘light’ topic of this chapter. The next section
is concerned with tactical ploys that are typically connected to certain
openings. Especially when you are young, or when you are starting to
study a new line, it’s useful to go over the tactics involved in that opening.
As a beginner, you often learn a few basic rules for opening play: play
a pawn in the centre (not too many, and later you learn that influence in
the centre is also good), develop your pieces (don’t play too often with the
same piece, and don’t play too early with your queen), and castle (bringing
the king into safety, and connecting your rooks).
That’s enough about the opening when you start out, but as you progress
you will see that ‘to sin’ against these general rules for other (higher)
purposes is entirely possible. And what is more, very strong players
will often not abide by the basic opening rules. You only have to think
of Fischer’s adoption of the so-called Poisoned Pawn Variation in the
Najdorf: 1.e4 c5 2.♘f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.♘xd4 ♘f6 5.♘c3 a6 6.♗g5 e6 7.f4
♕b6 8.♕d2 ♕xb2 – indeed the anecdotal ‘never take on b2, not even when
it’s good’ does not apply to World Champions!
And, yet, it is often when strong players aim for higher objectives that
their ambition gets in the way of those sound basic rules, and, that as a
consequence, punishment follows swiftly.

13
 How to Out-Prepare Your Opponent

Game 1  Torre Attack If it was the unnatural trade of a

Ye Rongguang 2500 bishop for a knight that caused
Loek van Wely 2675 Van Wely’s downfall, then the
Antwerp 1997 (2) next two top players may certainly
be excused for failing to see a
1.d4 ♘f6 2.♘f3 g6 3.♗g5 ♗g7 downright ugly but completely
4.♘bd2 0-0 5.e3 d6 6.♗c4 c5 7.c3 b6 winning move in the opening.

TsLd.tM_ Sergey Karjakin 2785

j._.jJlJ Levon Aronian 2780
.j.j.sJ_ Wijk aan Zee 2017 (7)
_.j._.b.
._Bi._._
_.i.iN_. T_.d.tM_
Ii.n.iIi jJj._.jJ
r._Qk._R .lS_Lj._
_._Sj._.
How would you continue? ._._._._
White has played a Torre Attack, _BiI_N_I
a typically ‘lazy opening’ where Ii._.iI_
you follow a certain scheme for † rNbQr.k.
developing your pieces. Probably
expecting White to castle next, Aronian has just played 10...f6?
Van Wely has just prepared the to protect his e-pawn. Karjakin
fianchetto of his queen’s bishop. responded with 11.d4?, which
Something is horribly wrong now. brought him nothing after 11...♗f7.
Is it because he played too many What did both players miss? Can
pawn moves (four), or because he you spot it?
didn’t develop his knight before the Van Wely’s 7...b6 opened the long
bishop? diagonal and made it possible for
In any case, Ye Rongguang now his opponent to win material. Here
struck with: too, the logical 10...f6 has opened
8.♗xf6! a diagonal (a2-g8). Moreover, the
It’s unnatural to voluntarily trade bishop on e6 is no longer protected
a bishop for a knight (which is and the b3-bishop eyes Black’s king
why Van Wely didn’t consider it of as well. What makes the winning
course when playing 7...b6), but if it 11.c4! so hard to spot is that:
wins material it’s quite all right, of   1)  it is a positionally very ugly
course! move, and
8...♗xf6 9.♗d5   2)  it is fairly uncommon to use a
And 1-0 after a few more moves. pawn as an attacking unit for the

14
 Chapter 1 – Tactics in the opening

discovered attack, which is what hasn’t castled yet – often a basic

happens after 11...♘db4 12.c5!, requirement in the opening.
attacking two bishops in one go!
Ts.dM_.t
The second World Champion jL_JsJjJ
Emanuel Lasker added the opening .j._J_._
rule that knights should be _.j._._.
developed before bishops. It’s useful .lI_._._
to consider why he should have said _.n._Ni.
so: a knight is a ‘slow’ piece, that is, IiQiIiBi
it’s not very useful on the bottom r.b.k._R
rank, while a bishop can already
exert his influence from a long 7.♘b5!
distance! But this is obviously not a Just punishment for neglecting the
rule that is carved in stone. basic rules of opening play! After
7...d6 8.a3 ♗a5 9.b4! cxb4 10.axb4
In our next example we find Van ♗xb4
Wely on the winning side (to
compensate for the first example) Ts.dM_.t
and his countryman Jeroen Piket jL_.sJjJ
sinning against Lasker’s rule (and a .j.jJ_._
few others). _N_._._.
.lI_._._
Game 2  English Opening _._._Ni.
Loek van Wely 2655 ._QiIiBi
Jeroen Piket 2630 r.b.k._R
Tilburg 1997 (10)
the point is the double attack:
1.c4 e6 2.♘c3 b6 3.g3 ♗b7 4.♘f3 11.♕b2! ♘bc6 12.♕xg7 ♖g8
♗b4 5.♗g2 ♘e7?! 13.♕xh7
Black has developed his bishops White has an extra pawn, and a
first, but actually it’s especially this much safer king. He won on move
move that looks provocative: more 25.
normal is 5...♘f6. Or, if you want to
play like Piket, then 5...♗xc3 6.bxc3 Our next example is probably one
♘e7 (Kasparov-Kramnik, Moscow of the most famous blunders in
rapid 2001), is the way. the opening, and you may well
6.♕c2 c5? have seen it in other books. It is
Shutting out his own bishop and not often that a former World
creating a weakness with his Champion sheds a piece in the
king still in the centre. Black opening!

15
 How to Out-Prepare Your Opponent

Game 3  Queen’s Indian Defence called Mike Cook – Secrets of Practical

Larry Christiansen 2620 Chess, Gambit 1998). In discussing
Anatoly Karpov 2725 Christiansen-Karpov he draws
Wijk aan Zee 1993 (2) attention to the one loose knight on
the rim. Adding another loose piece
1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 e6 3.♘f3 b6 4.a3 ♗a6 on d6 then invited the double attack.
5.♕c2 ♗b7 6.♘c3 c5 7.e4 cxd4 Karpov’s blunder is a curious one,
8.♘xd4 ♘c6 9.♘xc6 ♗xc6 10.♗f4 but one made by a player with
♘h5 11.♗e3 superior understanding. His main
This was already a well-known posi­ error was that he made no blunder
tion from the Queen’s Indian, where check before moving the bishop.
until this game they mostly played In that very same year, Karpov
11...♗c5, when 12.♗xc5 bxc5 13.g3 demonstrated the strength of
appears to be somewhat better for his positional vision by playing
White (Bareev-Eingorn, Kyiv 1986, 11...♕b8! 12.g3 f5! 13.0-0-0 ♘f6
and Ribli-Miles, Karlsruhe 1988, had 14.♗d3 ♕b7 15.f3 fxe4 16.♘xe4
been the key games). Karpov had a ♘xe4 17.fxe4 ♗d6 18.♖hf1 ♗e5
positionally superior idea: 19.♗f4 ♕b8!?.

T_.dMl.t Td._M_.t
j._J_JjJ j._J_.jJ
.jL_J_._ .jL_J_._
_._._._S _._.l._.
._I_I_._ ._I_Ib._
i.n.b._. i._B_.i.
.iQ_.iIi .iQ_._.i
r._.kB_R _.kR_R_.
11...♗d6?? After 20.♕e2 0-0 21.♕h5 ♖xf4!
Rather than trading dark-squared Karpov gave up an exchange for the
bishops, Karpov intends to play dark squares (and a pawn) and later
on the dark squares e5 and f4 by won in Lutz-Karpov, Dortmund
control­ling the diagonal b8-h2. 1993.
Christiansen was surely surprised,
but not unpleasantly so, and moved In 2010, I started playing the
his queen back to its original square: Sicilian Dragon as Black. Now only
12.♕d1 1-0 few openings can hold a candle
to the Dragon when it comes to
John Nunn introduced the useful theoretical ramifications, so it came
term LPDO: Loose Pieces Drop as something of a surprise when
Off (coined by a chess friend of his my opponent (an IM) played an

16
 Chapter 1 – Tactics in the opening

aggressive bayonet attack on move 7 7...♗xg4 8.f3

that I had not seen before. After 8.♗xg4 ♘xg4 9.♕xg4 ♗xd4,
Black was a pawn up, but the grand­
Game 4  Sicilian Defence master managed to draw in Peng
Christian Braun 2373 Xiaomin-Wang Wenhao, Suzhou
Jeroen Bosch 2430 2001.
Netherlands tt 2010/11 (1) 8...♗d7
The most logical move, but there are
1.e4 c5 2.♘f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.♘xd4 other tempting ones like 8...♗h3,
♘f6 5.♘c3 g6 6.♗e2 ♗g7 7.g4? and even 8...♗c8!? 9.♗e3 ♘c6
10.♕d2 0-0 11.0-0-0 d5 which is just
TsLdM_.t like the 9.0-0-0 main line – without
jJ_.jJlJ the precious g-pawn of course!
._.j.sJ_ 9.♗e3 ♘c6 10.♕d2
_._._._. This gives a normal Dragon set-up,
._.nI_I_ but the loss of the g-pawn is pretty
_.n._._. fatal: Black won.
IiI_Bi.i
r.bQk._R It is interesting that blunders
in the opening seem to occur
This blunder is not uncommon especial­ly when one side is trying
(there are some 30 examples in to be ‘clever’. That is not so strange,
the database) and has even been perhaps, because when you avoid
committed by Peng Xiaomin, a the well-known pathways, that
Chinese GM rated 2600+! My first will cost you energy and perhaps
thought was that g2-g4 wasn’t all you might even feel on some sub-
that frightening since I hadn’t conscious level that you should be
castled yet. Next, 7...♘c6 could not rewarded for your creativity. In
be a bad move – 8.♘b3 ♗e6 9.f4 was the next example, a strong Russian
the game Lenic-Mohr, Dobrna 2002, grandmaster tries to avoid a drawish
which was won by White (a junior Panov ending only to blunder on
talent at the time, beating his fellow the brink of the middlegame.
Slovenian who was an experienced
GM). However, then it struck me: Game 5  Caro-Kann Defence
as so often in the Dragon, White’s Alexander Riazantsev 2671
queen is overloaded. So, 7...♘xg4 Dmitry Yakovenko 2709
wins a clean pawn since her majesty Sharjah FIDE Grand Prix 2017 (5)
cannot protect both g4 and d4 at
the same time. And once you under­ 1.c4
stand that 7...♘xg4 works, you can From a Symmetrical English, we
even develop a new piece in one go! arrive at a Caro-Kann Panov that

17
 Chapter 4 – Preparing for a specific opponent or situation

both of us chances, and I don’t think In the game, we will transpose to

I would have gotten much against Rubinstein’s variation 6.e3 ♘bd7
either a Najdorf or a Grünfeld. So in 7.♕c2, and now 7...c5. The most
this game my choice of an off-beat classical option is 7.♖c1.
opening was based on reading the 6...♘bd7
character of my opponent. Polugaevsky states in his
The same – but in a different way – Damengambit: Orthodoxes System bis
holds for the final game that I want Wiener Variante that ‘play usually
to present to you in this chapter. transposes to the variation 6.e3
For a German league match in ♘bd7 7.♕c2 when Black plays
2017, I was to play as Black against 6...♘bd7’ in response to 6.♕c2.
Karl-Heinz Podzielny (who died in If Black wants to give the game a
2019). Podzielny was a strong IM, distinct character, he can play the
who certainly could have become immediate 6...c5, which is often a
a grandmaster. He had a huge good response to early ♕c2 lines in
reputation in blitz, earning him the Queen’s Gambit.
the nickname Podz-Blitz as well 7.e3 c5 8.cxd5
as seven national German titles in I half expected Podzielny to go for
that discipline. As I was preparing 8.0-0-0.
for the game by looking at his 8...♘xd5
games, I was struck by Podzielny’s Black can only hope for equality
creativity. I realized that I need after 8...cxd4 9.♘xd4 ♘xd5 10.♗xe7
not mix it in the opening to create ♘xe7 11.♗e2 ♘f6, and I wanted to
winning chances. Podzielny would be able to play for a win, although
see to that by playing something you depend on the ambitions of
interesting! So I decided to play a your opponent as well in such a
solid opening as Black. When you solid line.
get hit by creativity, it’s better when 9.♗xe7 ♕xe7
your position is inherently sound Again after 9...♘xe7, Black will have
and healthy! very few chances to achieve more
than equality.
Game 33  Queen’s Gambit Declined 10.♘xd5 exd5
Karl-Heinz Podzielny 2400
Jeroen Bosch 2408
T_L_.tM_
Germany tt 2017/18 (2)
jJ_SdJjJ
._._._._
1.d4 d5 2.♘f3 ♘f6 3.c4 e6 4.♘c3 _.jJ_._.
♗e7 5.♗g5 0-0 ._.i._._
What opening could be more _._.iN_.
healthy than the Queen’s Gambit? IiQ_.iIi
6.♕c2!? r._.kB_R

113
How to Out-Prepare Your Opponent

11.♖c1?!
Podzielny goes his own way. It is T_._.tM_
common for White to try to gain a jL_.dJjJ
slight edge by saddling Black with .s._._._
an isolated d-pawn. This can be _J_J_._.
done in two ways: ._Ji._.i
  A)  11.♗d3 g6 12.dxc5 ♘xc5 13.0-0 _._.iNi.
(13.♖c1 ♘xd3+ 14.♕xd3 ♗f5! has IiQ_.iB_
been known to equalize since _.r._Rk.
Alekhine-Capablanca, World
Championship Buenos Aires (10) With the centre closed, White
1927) 13...♗g4 14.♘d4, and now needs to seek play on the kingside.
14...♖fc8 was played thrice by Jeroen I think that Podzielny was happy
Piket (versus Nikolic, Salov and with his position, even though
Shirov), while 14...♖ac8 is also fine; Black is objectively better.
  B)  Black immediately obtains 15...♖ad8
equality after 11.dxc5 ♘xc5 12.♗e2 Black has a regrouping in mind.
♗g4 13.♘d4 ♘e6 14.♗xg4 ♘xd4 It was perhaps better to start
15.♕a4 ♘c6, as in Polugaevsky- Black’s queenside play with 15...a5
Geller, Portoroz 1973. or to play the useful 15...♖fe8. The
11...c4! queen’s rook was well-placed on a8.
This demonstrates why White 16.♘g5 g6 17.♖fe1
should not have refrained from the My reason for playing 15...♖ad8 was
age-old recipe to play against an the line 17.♘h3 ♗c8!? 18.♘f4 f6!
isolated pawn (however little that 19.♖fe1 g5, and Black is somewhat
achieves). Black now has a queen­ better.
side majority that gives him the 17...♗c8
better long-term chances. His light- Now that the rook is not locked in
squared bishop is a ‘bad bishop’ in on a8, it seems sensible to re-direct
name only. the bishop to greener pastures.
12.g3 18.♕d2 f6 19.♘h3
Black was better after 12.b3 b5 White aims for ♘h3-f4. Black has a
13.♗e2 ♘f6 14.♘e5 ♘e4 15.bxc4 slight edge after 19.♘f3 b4.
(15.0-0 f6) 15...♕b4+ 16.♔f1 bxc4 19...♗xh3
17.f3 ♘d6 in Alber-Sonntag, Aiming for clarity.
Karlsruhe 1988. Black is for choice after 19...b4
12...b5 13.♗g2 ♘b6 20.♘f4 g5!. However, stronger is
A safer set-up is 13...♘f6 and 20.a3!, when White obtains good
14...♗e6, followed by the march of compensation in lines such as:
the queenside pawns.   A)  20...bxa3 21.bxa3 ♕xa3 22.♖a1
14.0-0 ♗b7 15.h4 ♕e7 23.♘f4;

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 Chapter 4 – Preparing for a specific opponent or situation

  B)  20...♗xh3 21.♗xh3 bxa3 fact ignore White’s initiative if he

22.bxa3 ♕xa3 23.♗e6+ ♔h8 24.e4; calculates accurately: 29...a4! 30.♖e5
  C)  While 20...a5 21.axb4 axb4 b3 31.axb3 axb3, and Black wins!
22.♖a1 at least gives him the a-file 28.♖f4 ♕c7 29.♖xf8+ ♔xf8 30.h5!
as a basis for counterplay.
20.♗xh3 b4 ._.t.m._
I wanted to avoid 20...f5 21.♕a5. _.d._._J
21.b3?! ._._._J_
If 21.♗g2, then 21...f5. Objectively j._._._I
best was 21.a3 and after 21...b3, the .jSi._._
temporary pawn sacrifice 22.e4! _.jQ_.i.
dxe4 23.♗f1. I_R_.iB_
21...f5 22.♗g2 a5 _._._.k.
._.t.tM_ Black is still winning, but in time
_._.d._J trouble White has significant
.s._._J_ counterplay.
j._J_J_. 30...♕f7?
.jJi._.i Black should have moved the
_I_.i.i. knight over as a defender and then
I_.q.iB_ won with his queenside: 30...♘e5!
_.r.r.k. 31.♕e4 ♘f7 32.hxg6 hxg6 33.♕xg6,
and now 33...♕d6 or 33...♖xd4.
Here we see the full extent of I saw 30...♘a3 31.hxg6 ♘xc2 32.gxh7
Black’s positional plan. He has the ♔g7 33.♕xc2 ♔h8 and wins, but
centre under control and is superior 31.♖c1 looked unclear, and indeed
on the queenside. Podzielny goes all it is. Black’s knight has lost the plot
in now, which makes perfect sense and is side-tracked.
in a game between two humans: 31.d5! ♘d2
23.bxc4 dxc4 24.e4 c3! 25.♕d3 fxe4 The outcome is completely unclear
26.♖xe4 ♕f7 now. This verdict is not changed by
Objectively, Black is much better, 31...♘d6 32.♕d4 ♖e8 33.♕b6 ♕e7,
but the position of his king is a or 31...♘e5 32.♕d4 ♖e8.
concern for the remainder of the 32.♖c1
game. White had many alternatives, all of
27.♖c2 ♘c4?! them leading to a draw with correct
I rejected 27...♕c4, which felt like play.
winning because of 28.♕e3 ♘d5 32...gxh5 33.♕a6 ♔g7 34.♕xa5 ♖f8
29.♕g5, and here I mainly looked Black is coordinated, and at the
at 29...♘f6 30.♖f4, which appeared possible cost of his queenside is
somewhat unclear. Black can in setting up an attack of his own.

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How to Out-Prepare Your Opponent

35.♕c5 Correct was 38...♔h8!, but we were

35.f4?! ♕e7 36.♕b6 ♖f6 37.♕d4 both down to our increment.
♔f8, and White cannot avoid 38... 39.♕g5+?
h4!, with an attack. 39.♕xb4! ♕xf2+ 40.♔h1 is a draw.
It looks risky, but 35.♕xb4 still 39...♔h8
draws: 35...♕xf2+ 36.♔h1 (36.♔h2 Suddenly there is no perpetual for
♘f3+ 37.♔h1 ♕xg3 38.♕xc3+ ♔g8 White, and Black gets a winning
39.♗xf3 ♖xf3 40.♕c8+ ♖f8 41.♕e6+ attack against the white king
♔h8 42.♖c8 ♕f3+ =) 36...♖f3 (combined with his far-advanced
37.♕e7+ ♔h6 38.♕e6+ ♔g7 39.♗xf3 passed pawn on c3).
♕xf3+ 40.♔h2 ♘f1+ 41.♖xf1 ♕xf1. 40.♕e3 ♖g7+ 41.♔f1 ♕xd5
35...h4!? Or 41...♕h1+ 42.♔e2 ♕xd5.
42.♖e1
._._.t._
_._._DmJ ._._._.m
._._._._ _._._.tJ
_.qI_._. ._._._._
.j._._.j _._D_._.
_.j._.i. .j._._.i
I_.s.iB_ _.j.q._.
_.r._.k. I_._.i._
_._.rK_.
36.gxh4?
A mistake in time trouble. After the time control had passed,
36.f4! hxg3 37.♕xb4 ♕xf4 there was now time enough to
(37...♕a7+) 38.♕xf4 ♖xf4 39.♖xc3 calculate until the end:
♖d4 40.♖xg3+ ♔f6 is a drawn 42...c2! 43.♔e2 ♖g6!
ending. Perpetual check is the Not 43...♕xa2? 44.♕e8+ ♕g8
outcome in most other lines: 45.♔d2! (45.♕e5 ♕d8) 45...b3
  A)  36.♕xb4 ♕xf2+ 37.♔h1 ♖e8 46.♕e5 ♕f7 47.♔c1 h5 48.♔b2, and
38.♕xc3+ ♔g8 39.♕c6 ♖e1+ 40.♖xe1 White draws!
♕xe1+ 41.♔h2 ♕xg3+ 42.♔h1; 44.♕e8+ ♔g7 45.♕e7+ ♔h6
  B)  36.d6 hxg3 37.fxg3 ♘f3+ 46.♕f8+ ♔h5!
38.♗xf3 ♕xf3 39.♕g5+ ♔h8 The king simply escapes.
40.♕e5+ ; 47.♕f3+ ♕xf3+ 48.♔xf3 ♖f6+
  C)  36.♖e1 ♘f3+ 37.♗xf3 ♕xf3 49.♔g3 ♖a6
38.♖e7+ ♔h8 39.d6 ♕d1+ ; And White resigned.
  D)  36.♕d4+ ♕f6 37.♕g4+ ♔h8
38.♕xb4 ♕xf2+ 39.♔h1. In this chapter, we have seen
36...♘f3+! 37.♗xf3 ♕xf3 38.♕e7+ how the choice for a particular
♖f7? opening may be influenced by the

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 Chapter 4 – Preparing for a specific opponent or situation

circumstances or the playing style Slav against 1.d4, and are happy
of your opponent. with both of them, that basically
A note of warning: your choice for decides the matter. You don’t have
an opening variation should first the luxury or the experience to
and foremost take into account think about anything else than 1...
your own knowledge, playing c6 versus your opponent’s 1.e4, so
style, preferences, etc. The Socratic don’t!
‘know thyself’ or ‘self-knowledge However, I do feel that for
is the start of all wisdom’ very ambitious players, but also for
much applies to your opening club players, it has become much
preparation. If you have a limited easier to vary their openings. The
repertoire and only play the computer and database programs
Caro-Kann against 1.e4 and the enable you to study much faster.

Lessons learned
• We have seen examples where a particular situation influenced the choice
of opening (Paul Span opting for the Sveshnikov against me in a must-win
situation, and my adoption of the Veresov versus Ftacnik).
• By all means, take into account the character or style of your opponent:
I played the dubious Norwegian Variation against Paul Span, but the solid
Queen’s Gambit against Podzielny.
• It certainly pays off to look at (odd) preferences or previous good results
of your opponent. Thus, I could lure Greenfeld into my Slav preparation,
and Rogers was able to induce me into playing a dubious line versus the
Kalashnikov Sicilian.
• It depends on your character, but sometimes simply opting for a fresh
perspective can be stimulating too, as when I adopted 1.d4 against Frank
Kroeze.
• The point is not that you should make the choices I made in this chapter.
On the contrary, the point is that you should think about the options
before the game and then make the choice that you feel most comfortable
with.

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 Chapter 8 – Entering the main lines

10.♗c4 ♗e6 11.♗b3 g6 12.♗e3 22...♗f5 23.♕d2 ♗d6

♘d7 13.♕d2 ♖c8 14.0-0-0 ♘c5
15.♗xc5 ♖xc5 ._T_._M_
Best is 15...dxc5 16.♕xd8 ♖cxd8 _J_._J_J
17.♘d5 ♗d6, when White must J_.l._J_
prevent ...b5 with 18.♘b6, when d._IjLi.
18...♗c7 19.♘d5 could lead to a ._._._.i
repetition. _Bi._._.
16.h4 ♘f4?! I_Iq.i._
Played in the wrong order. 16...♕a5!, _K_R_._R
intending to sacrifice on c3, gives
Black good compensation: And by now Black has good
compen­sation for his material
._._.tM_ investment. Giri won in the end,
_J_.lJ_J but that had nothing to do with the
J_.jL_J_ current position.
d.t.j.iS
._._I_.i Clearly MVL took quite a thrashing
_Bn._N_. at Wijk aan Zee, but that did not
IiIq.i._ deter him from the Najdorf when
_.kR_._R the Candidates Tournament was
resumed on April 19, 2021, in
analysis diagram
Yekaterinburg.
  A)  17.♔b1 ♖xc3 18.♕xc3 ♕xc3 His very first game was crucial:
19.bxc3 ♗g4 20.♖d3 ♘f4; Black against Fabiano Caruana, the
  B)  The problem for White after previous challenger to the World
16...♕a5 is that compared to the Champion and the man who had
game he does not have time for beaten him in the Poisoned Pawn
17.♘e1? due to 17...♗xb3! 18.cxb3 (or at Wijk aan Zee.
18.axb3 ♕a1+ 19.♘b1 ♘f4) 18...♕xa2.
17.♔b1 ♕a5 18.♘e1 Game 64  Sicilian Defence
The difference – Black no longer Fabiano Caruana 2823
has the awkward pin with ...♗g4. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 2784
18...♖fc8 19.♘d3 ♘xd3 20.♕xd3 Yekaterinburg ct 2021 (8)
♖xc3 21.bxc3 d5?!
White is better after 21...♖xc3! 1.e4 c5 2.♘f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.♘xd4
22.♕d2, but objectively this was ♘f6 5.♘c3 a6 6.♗g5 e6 7.f4 ♕b6
better. 8.♕d2 ♕xb2 9.♖b1 ♕a3 10.e5
22.exd5 Caruana had played 10.♗e2 in Wijk
The prophylactic 22.♕d2! was very aan Zee. The American is following
strong. a hit-and-run policy. In each game,

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How to Out-Prepare Your Opponent

he probes at another sore spot in tactic wins heavy material, Najer-

the Poisoned Pawn. Vachier-Lagrave, Dortmund 2016;
– 24.0-0 ♕c5 25.♕d4 a5 26.g4 f4
TsL_Ml.t 27.♖xf4 a4 28.♖f1 ♕xd4+ 29.♖xd4
_J_._JjJ ♘c5 30.♗f3 a3 31.♖d2 ♘fd7 32.♘xc8
J_.jJs._ ♖xc8 33.♗xb7 ♖b8 34.♗c6 ♘e5
_._.i.b. 35.♗b5 ♘xg4 36.♖a2, and White
._.n.i._ wins the a-pawn and is a tad better,
d.n._._. but the knights drove Giri crazy in
I_Iq._Ii the end, Giri-Vachier-Lagrave, Paris
_R_.kB_R rapid 2019.
16...♗c5 17.♗g3 ♕d5
10...h6 11.♗h4 dxe5 12.fxe5 ♘fd7
12...g5 is a huge alternative branch TsL_M_.t
here. _J_S_Jj.
13.♘e4 ♕xa2 14.♖d1 J_._J_.j
The old 14.♖b3 ♕a1+ 15.♔f2 ♕a4 _.lD_._.
favours Black, as has been known ._.nN_._
since Kortchnoi-Tolush, Riga 1958. _.i.q.b.
14...♕d5 15.♕e3 ♕xe5 16.c3 ._._._Ii
This is extremely rare. They all play _._RkB_R
16.♗e2 ♗c5 17.♗g3, and now either
17...♗xd4 18.♖xd4 ♕a5+ 19.♖d2 18.♗c4!?N
0-0 20.♗d6, or 17...♕d5 18.c4 ♗xd4 A bombshell, courtesy of Caruana’s
19.♖xd4 ♕a5+ 20.♖d2 0-0 21.♗d6 f5 second Rustam Kasimdzhanov.
22.♗xf8 ♘xf8 23.♘d6 ♘bd7. Until this moment, White players
had all ‘won’ Black’s queen with
T_L_.sM_ 18.♗d6 ♗xd6 19.♘b5 ♕xd1+
_J_S_.j. 20.♔xd1 ♗e5, which is the first
J_.nJ_.j choice of the engine and is deemed
d._._J_. ‘close to equal’ by the silicon oracle.
._I_._._ 18...♕xc4
_._.q._. Black has no choice but to accept
._.rB_Ii the bishop on offer. For the next
_._.k._R moves, MVL does an excellent
job of steering through the
MVL has scored two full points complications.
from this position: 19.♗d6 ♘f6!
– 24.g4 fxg4 25.♗xg4 ♕a1+ 26.♖d1 Returning material rather than
♕e5 27.♖d3?? (27.♔f2 gives equal hazarding 19...♗xd4 20.♖xd4 ♕a2,
chances) 27...♘c5!, and this neat when 21.0-0 or 21.♕g3 provide

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White excellent compensation for 26...♘e4?!

the piece and three pawns! Best was the materialistic 26...♖a7!,
20.♘xc5 ♘d5 21.♕e5 ♖g8! when 27.0-0+ ♔g6 28.♖xc3 ♔h7
The queen does an excellent job on should peter out into a draw:
c4, preventing White from castling. 29.♘d5 ♘c6 30.♗c5 b6 31.♗xb6 ♖d7
If you take a pawn with check: 32.♖xc6 ♖xd5. Black has an extra
21...♕xc3+ 22.♔f2 ♕b2+ 23.♔g3, pawn, but the opposite-coloured
you have to ask yourself next: how bishops ensure the draw for White.
is my king going to escape? And 27.0-0+ ♔g6 28.♘xa8
how am I going to disentangle my Although material is even (Black
undeveloped pieces? If 23...♘f6, has two pawns for the exchange),
then 24.♖hf1. White has all the play here.
Caruana won on move 74 after a
TsL_M_T_ long and complicated endgame.
_J_._Jj.
J_.bJ_.j So poor MVL scored ½ out of 5 with
_.nSq._. the Najdorf in the first two classical
._Dn._._ tournaments of 2021. This is not
_.i._._. about bashing the Frenchman, and
._._._Ii let’s not forget that he was facing
_._Rk._R on average 2760 as Black in these
5 games. Against such staunch
22.♘dxe6! opposition, it is of course not that
Time for action – Black was threat­ strange when you lose a couple
ening both 22...♘d7 and 22...b6. of games. What we are concerned
22...fxe6 23.♘xe6 ♕xc3+ with here is not the score, but how
The engine also likes 23...♘f6 this score came about. Let’s briefly
24.♘g5+ ♗e6 25.♕xe6+ ♕xe6+ recap:
26.♘xe6 ♔f7 27.♘c7 ♖a7, but who * Harikrishna: White chose a solid
can blame MVL for trading queens? line (6.♗e3 e5 7.♘f3) and was better
24.♕xc3 ♘xc3 25.♘c7+ ♔f7 26.♖d3 in the middlegame, but MVL held
the draw. Note that he never had
TsL_._T_ any chances for more. Theoretically,
_Jn._Mj. Black is probably fine: 12...g6!? from
J_.b._.j Nisipeanu-Gopal, Tegernsee 2018.
_._._._. * Grandelius: a Poisoned Pawn
._._._._ Variation with 10.f5. The Swedish
_.sR_._. GM turned the game into a memory
._._._Ii contest and MVL failed in that task.
_._.k._R Black could have kept the balance
with 19...♘h5!. White’s rating was

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How to Out-Prepare Your Opponent

about 100 Elo points lower and he researcher’s point of view, that is).
played with the draw in hand. We are talking about a genuine
* Caruana (Wijk aan Zee): another main line!
Poisoned Pawn Variation, this time Now, if I were MVL, what would
with 10.♗e2. One wrong choice worry me is that only in one of
(13...exd5? instead of 13...cxd5!) these five games (against Giri) did
lost Black the game, although it he have an opportunity to play
required White to find the brilliant for a win. Concerning the other
14.e6!! to seal the Frenchman’s fate. four games: one was dull, and the
* Giri: the Dutchman went for a other three Poisoned Pawn games
fighting game with 6.h3. A full- basically gave him little chance to
blown Najdorf battle ensued. play. One mistake against Caruana
15...dxc5 would have led to an (Wijk aan Zee) was enough to lose
even game, but there was nothing the game. In the other two games,
wrong with MVL’s 15...♖xc5. A real Black had to perform a tightrope
struggle, and Giri happened to act with only one result in mind
win, but it could also have been the (a draw). To my mind, that’s not
other way around. a great prospect for any player,
* Caruana (Candidates): again the although it is of course much more
Poisoned Pawn Variation, and once common at the elite level.
again another test – this time in That is not to say that you should
the 10.e5 variation. Caruana had not play a sharp Sicilian that
prepared an incredible novelty requires concrete knowledge. We
(18.♗c4), but MVL defended can also think of examples to the
superbly only to falter at the contrary. Think for example of
last hurdle: 26...♖a7 would have Kasparov’s use of the Dragon in
guaranteed him a draw. He kept his World Championship Match
drawing chances in that game against Anand (1995), and Carlsen’s
until the very end, but it is fair to use of the Sveshnikov in his World
say that MVL was under severe Championship Match against
pressure for the entire endgame. Caruana (2018). Indeed, MVL
himself has of course won many
Let’s first draw one important games as Black with the Najdorf.
conclusion: theoretically, Another qualification that we
the Najdorf is in good shape! can make is that you and I, dear
Objectively, Black need not be reader, will not often play against
worse against any of the lines that the strongest players in the world.
White tried in these five games. Consequently, our opponents
Some of the best players on the will be less booked up than those
planet had a go at the Najdorf and grandmasters MVL had to face.
the Najdorf held its own (from the The risk of a memory contest is

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 Chapter 8 – Entering the main lines

probably less, as amateurs will Moving towards a tabiya – the

also not find it so easy to prepare Ruy Lopez
6.♗g5 properly with White. In the At the start of the 21st century, I
end, the choice is yours, of course. was mainly playing the Sicilian
The Najdorf remains an excellent Defence as Black. The Najdorf, the
opening, and it is up to you whether Sveshnikov, the Kupreichik and
you want to run the necessary miles the Kan Variation all featured in
to book up! my games against 1.e4. A few years
Our case study of the Najdorf into the century, I wanted to take
should not lead you to the up 1...e5 as well, thinking that it
conclu­sion that all main lines could be useful to steer towards a
require the same amount of more positional game whenever I
study. John Nunn makes a very wanted to. Now I had not played
interesting observation in Secrets 1...e5 since I had just started to
of Practical Chess regarding the play chess in the early 1980s. This
difference between concrete main meant that I could not restrict
lines (like the Najdorf) and more myself to studying the Ruy Lopez,
positional openings. Nunn does so but had to set up an entire opening
in the context of learning a new repertoire. Indeed, White has a lot
opening: of options after 1.e4 e5: the Scotch,
‘When I started playing the Sicilian the Italian, several lines in the Four
Najdorf, my results were very Knights, not to mention the odd
good. This is an opening in which Bishop’s Opening, Vienna Game
concrete knowledge of specific lines and King’s Gambit, and not even
is very important. I had just studied this enumeration is complete. Now,
the opening in great detail, and I did not want to ‘waste too much
so my knowledge was often better time’ studying 1...e5, but not daring
and more up-to-date than that of to play it for lack of knowledge...
my opponents. On the other hand, perhaps my approach can be of
playing a strategic opening requires some use to the reader as well.
a positional understanding which My solution was as follows. Against
is better learnt by experience than White’s most serious option, the
from books. It may be several games Ruy Lopez, I studied a sideline to
before you get up to speed with save time. The time gained was used
such an opening, but be persistent to complete my repertoire against
– your efforts will be rewarded in the other (lesser) options. So, I
the end.’ started playing 1...e5 much faster
(Secrets of Practical Chess, p. 71) than I otherwise would have dared
Now this is a view that I can to. What did I play against the Ruy
fully subscribe to from personal Lopez? I had selected two lines
experience. starting with 3...♘f6, but not the

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How to Out-Prepare Your Opponent

Berlin, which was becoming a full- played it against Karpov in their

blown main-line opening following 1981 match in Merano. And you can
Kramnik’s success against Kasparov also study this position by means of
in the 2000 World Championship old games by Emanuel Lasker.
match. In the game, my opponent played a
less critical line:
Game 65  Ruy Lopez 6.dxe5 0-0 7.♘bd2 d5 8.♕e2 ♘c5
Paul Span 2279 9.♘b3 ♗g4 10.♗xc6 bxc6
Jeroen Bosch 2450 With an even game.
Rosmalen HMC Calder Cup B 2003 (2)
My other idea with Black was also
1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗b5 ♘f6 4.0-0 based on Lasker. It was to play the
♘xe4 5.d4 ♗e7 Steinitz Variation via a safe move
The Berlin proper starts with order.
5...♘d6 6.♗xc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 ♘f5
8.♕xd8+ ♔xd8. Game 66  Ruy Lopez
Ian Rogers 2582
T_LdM_.t Jeroen Bosch 2445
jJjJlJjJ Netherlands tt finals (3/4 place) 2004
._S_._._
_B_.j._. 1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗b5 ♘f6
._.iS_._ The immediate 3...d6 is the Steinitz
_._._N_. Variation proper. The downside of
IiI_.iIi that move order is that White can
rNbQ_Rk. still castle queenside and start a
dangerous attack on Black’s king.
The text is usually met by 6.♕e2 See the chapter ‘Move order and the
♘d6 7.♗xc6 bxc6 8.dxe5 ♘b7!?. art of interpolating moves’ in which
I have made the same point.
T_LdM_.t 4.0-0 d6
jSjJlJjJ
._J_._._ T_LdMl.t
_._.i._. jJj._JjJ
._._._._ ._Sj.s._
_._._N_. _B_.j._.
IiI_QiIi ._._I_._
rNb._Rk. _._._N_.
IiIi.iIi
This is the Rio de Janeiro Variation, rNbQ_Rk.
which is a bit better for White, but
really not at all bad. Kortchnoi A simple move, but not at all bad.

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 Chapter 8 – Entering the main lines

Now the absolute main line is 5.d4 line? Well, it’s debatable perhaps,
exd4 (or 5...♗d7 and ...exd4 on the but this once was an absolute main
next move) 6.♘xd4 ♗d7 7.♘c3 ♗e7 line, there are much more than a
8.♖e1 0-0. thousand games in the database and
it has been played by some of the
T_.d.tM_ strongest players in the world (and
jJjLlJjJ is still being played – there is a 2021
._Sj.s._ online rapid game J.van Foreest-
_B_._._. Radjabov for example).
._.nI_._ Ian Rogers did not go for the old
_.n._._. main line, but went for another
IiI_.iIi perfectly sound line:
r.bQr.k. 5.♖e1 ♗e7 6.c3 0-0 7.h3!?
Instead 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 ♗g4
Black’s set-up may appear a little 9.♗xc6 bxc6 10.♘bd2 was Kroeze-
passive, but it is also solid, and Bosch, Netherlands tt 2004.
later there will be opportunities for 7...♗d7
counterplay. Just study the games Not the only move. We reach
of Lasker! (and those of Capablanca, the main line of the Ruy Lopez
Euwe, Keres, Portisch and Short, after 7...a6!? 8.♗a4 b5 9.♗b3. White
to name but a few eminent players can also try 9.♗c2!? in this move
who have repeatedly played like order.
this) An interesting alternative is 7...♘d7
Lajos Portisch devotes a full 8.d4 ♗f6 in the style of the Moscow
chapter to this line in My Secrets Variation.
in the Ruy Lopez. In this book, 8.♗f1
Portisch describes how he prepared The immediate 8.d4 allows Black
the Old Steinitz Variation (as he to equalize with 8...♘xd4! (9.♘xd4
calls it to distinguish it from the exd4 10.♗xd7 ♕xd7). White can
Modern Steinitz with 3...a6 4.♗a4 play 8.♗a4 to prepare the central
interpolated) for a match against advance.
John Nunn. He then goes on to 8...h6!?
add that in subsequent years ‘I In a 2006 rapid game, Portisch
only used this opening when I played 8...♖e8 9.d4 ♗f8 against
was willing to “suffer” a little, or Almasi.
I had no time or ambition for long 9.d4 ♘h7 10.dxe5
preparation’ [my italics]. White releases the tension: he could
My point exactly! So you can play 1... either keep it with 10.♘bd2 ♘g5, or
e5 without devoting an inordinate go for more space with 10.d5 ♘b8.
amount of time to your theoretical Black will prepare ...f7-f5 in the
preparation. Are we playing a main latter case.

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How to Out-Prepare Your Opponent

10...dxe5 This is an incredibly rich position

Not 10...♘xe5? 11.♘xe5 dxe5 12.♕d5. that rightly deserves to be called a
11.b4 a6 12.♗e3 ♘g5 tabiya (or key position): Black has
This was the point of 8...h6. Trading many different and equally valid
a piece gives Black more breathing battle plans from this position.
space. He can play the Chigorin Variation
13.♘bd2 ♘xf3+ 14.♘xf3 with 9...♘a5 10.♗c2 c5 11.d4, which
Or 14.♕xf3 ♗g5. will then branch out into several
14...♗e6 different directions. There is the
Breyer Variation: a regrouping
T_.d.tM_ manoeuvre starting with 9...♘b8
_Jj.lJj. 10.d4 ♘bd7 11.♘bd2 ♗b7, followed
J_S_L_.j by ...♖e8, ...♗f8. A very sharp game
_._.j._. arises after the Zaitsev Variation:
.i._I_._ 9...♗b7 (or 9...♖e8) 10.d4 ♖e8
_.i.bN_I 11.♘bd2 ♗f8. Then there are other
I_._.iI_ serious options like 9...h6 (the
r._QrBk. Smyslov Variation) and 9...♘d7 (the
Moscow Variation).
White is slightly better, but it is In addition to these moves, a few
nothing special. The game was lesser options are not without
drawn after 38 moves. interest: 9...♗e6, 9...a5, 9...♕d7
(essentially aiming for a kind
A few years later, I felt ready to play of Zaitsev set-up), and even the
the main lines of the Ruy Lopez. SOS-like 9...♖b8!?. The point of
The main Spanish tabiya arises after the latter move is that after 10.d4,
1.e4 e5 2.♘f3 ♘c6 3.♗b5 a6 4.♗a4 Black can play 10...exd4 11.cxd4 d5
♘f6 5.0-0 ♗e7 6.♖e1 b5 7.♗b3 d6 to completely change the character
8.c3 0-0 9.h3. of the game – this is bad with the
rook on a8 due to 12.♘e5! ♘xe5
T_Ld.tM_ 13.dxe5 ♘xe4 14.♗xd5.
_.j.lJjJ
J_Sj.s._ The strategical complexity is,
_J_.j._. however, not so much determined
._._I_._ by the many different theoretical
_Bi._N_I branches after 9.h3, but by a pawn
Ii.i.iI_ structure that is still flexible. Let’s
rNbQr.k. have a look at a couple of pawn
structures that may arise from this
analysis diagram
position.

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 Chapter 8 – Entering the main lines

Tension and flexibility Karpov

._._._._ ._._._._
_._._JjJ _._._JjJ
J_.j._._ J_.j._._
_Jj.j._. _JjIj._.
._.iI_._ ._._I_._
_.i._._I _.i._._I
Ii._.iI_ Ii._.iI_
_._._._. _._._._.
The tension in the centre may be If the name of any grandmaster
preserved for quite some time in ought to be associated with the
the Ruy Lopez. space-gaining d4-d5, it is probably
White can resolve this tension in that of Karpov, who produced many
two ways: by trading on e5 (or c5), strategic masterpieces by out­playing
and by closing the position with his opponents on both flanks.
d4-d5. Not only White can resolve
the tension. Black also has this
option, and again, this may lead to
Rauzer/Fischer completely different structures.

._._._._ Benoni
_._._JjJ
._._._._
J_._._._
_._._JjJ
_Jj.j._.
J_.j._._
._._I_._
_JjI_._.
_.i._._I
._._I_._
Ii._.iI_
_._._._I
_._._._.
Ii._.iI_
This is the plan advocated by _._._._.
Russian grandmaster Vsevolod Here Black has traded on d4 (...
Rauzer. The d-file is open (which exd4 cxd4) and induced White to
may introduce a trade of rooks), play d4-d5. This may happen in
and White has strongholds on d5 the Zaitsev Variation, but also in
and f5. Black will push ...c5-c4 and a Chigorin branch called the Graf
place a knight or bishop on the Variation for example. The resulting
c5-square. Bobby Fischer played pawn structure is known from the
a few superb games with this Benoni. Black has a pawn majority
structure. on the queenside and will put his

217
How to Out-Prepare Your Opponent

dark-squared bishop on the long A symmetrical pawn structure

diagonal. White will usually start a has arisen here. This means that
kingside attack. White has lost all his structural
advantages, but there may be
Open c-file excellent reasons for taking on e5
nevertheless. Perhaps White gains
._._._._ control over an open file, or he may
_._._JjJ be able to use the weakness of any
J_.j._._ of the central squares c5, d5 or f5,
_J_.j._. for example.
._.iI_._
_._._._I If we go back to the penultimate
Ii._.iI_ diagram, we see that Black may also
_._._._. resolve the tension:
Black has taken on d4 with his
c-pawn. He does so to gain counter­ Open centre
play along the c-file (often the
bishop on c2 will be attacked with ._._._._
tempo). There are two disadvan­ _._._JjJ
tages for Black involved in the trade J_.j._._
on d4: he is losing some space (a _J_._._.
c5-pawn versus a c3-pawn), and ._._I_._
White gains the natural c3-square _._._._I
for his knight (Black therefore Ii._.iI_
usually takes on d4 only after White _._._._.
has developed his queen’s knight
via d2). From the diagrammed Black has traded twice on d4. He
position, White may push his now has an isolated and backward
d-pawn to gain space, or take on e5. pawn on d6, and the squares d5 and
f5 may be vulnerable as well. On
Symmetrical the upside, he may get excellent
piece play and, with a bishop on
._._._._ b7, start active play against the
_._._JjJ e4-pawn.
J_._._._
_J_.j._. Now let us go back to the initial
._._I_._ diagram and see if the tension can
_._._._I be increased even further.
Ii._.iI_
_._._._. (see diagram next page)

218
 Chapter 8 – Entering the main lines

Central clash or with both colours) is not just

about the opening. This is about
._._._._ understanding chess in a very
_._._JjJ broad sense. And if we think back
J_._._._ about what John Nunn stated about
_JjJj._. playing a strategic opening (in
._.iI_._ contrast to the Sicilian Najdorf),
_.i._._I that you learn from experience and
Ii._.iI_ that ‘your efforts will be rewarded
_._._._. in the end’, you see that there may
be long-term gains involved in
Black has played ...d6-d5, increasing playing a main-line opening (and
the tension in the centre to boiling especially a strategic opening like
point. This is not a situation that the Ruy Lopez).
can last for many moves. Trades will The subtitle of this book refers to
follow and piece activity will be the Successful Chess Opening Preparation.
prime aim for both sides. That title may refer to very direct
and concrete successes, but it may
If you look back at the positions also refer to a more long-term
above, you will be struck by the approach. It surely depends upon
heterogeneity of the Ruy Lopez. your personal ambitions, but
We can now understand Kasparov incorporating the Ruy Lopez may
(in a comment in which he be very much an investment, an
praises Karpov and remembers opening strategy to gain a wider
Capablanca) when he states that: and deeper understanding of chess.
‘the Ruy Lopez is the touchstone Successes will follow eventually.
of understanding positional play’.
The 13th World Champion then I started this long exposé by stating
goes on to mention ‘Keres, who that I felt ready to play the main
thought that the development of Ruy Lopez after I had played 1...e5
a young player was inconceivable for a couple of years. I would now
without a knowledge and, above like to share some of my losses (and
all, an understanding of the a few wins) with you to illustrate
subtleties of the Ruy Lopez, and some of the things I mentioned
that a knowledge of this opening above (both the strategical
was necessary for every strong character­is­tics and that there is a
player’ (Garry Kasparov, My Great kind of learning curve to playing
Predecessors: Part V, p. 304). the Ruy Lopez).
If you look at it from this angle, The first time I got to play the
studying and playing the Ruy main tabiya was in the Dutch
Lopez (with White or with Black, Championship of 2006.

219